Archive for Comedy Clubs

COMEDY MATTERS ROUND-UP WITH NIKKI GLASER AT THE GLOBES, MEL BROOKS DOC, KILL TONY ON NETFLIX, BORSCHT BELT FEST, JACKIE MASON SHOW, COMEDY PARTIES AT NY COMEDY CLUB AND GOTHAM COMEDY CLUB, AND OF COURSE LOTS MORE!!!

Posted by Jeffrey Gurian on January 26, 2026

**(L-R) FROM THE ARCHIVES – WITH NIKKI GLASER, RACHEL FEINSTEIN, SOME GUY, AMY SCHUMER, AND MARINA FRANKLIN – THE POWER WOMEN OF COMEDY**

NIKKI GLASER KILLS AT AT THE GLOBES … AGAIN!!!

It came as no surprise that Nikki Glaser absolutely crushed at the 83rd annual Golden Globes where she was the host for the 2nd year in a row. I have a feeling she will be the ongoing host from now on! She’s so funny, so well poised, so elegant in all of her 9 changes of outfits, and really commands the room which is not easy to do when you’re facing the biggest stars in the game. But Nikki did it! She made her entrance in a gorgeous red gown fit for a Princess! ( Click the link)

Her lines were so sharp. In particular when she came out said ” There are so many A-listers here, and by A-listers I mean people who are on “A list” that has been heavily redacted!

Then she announced the award for MOST editing goes to CBS News, America’s newest place to “C-BS News!” Such a clever line I wish I had written it myself!

And lastly when she saw Sean Penn who looked kind of wild, with his hair a total mess she said, ” I love you Sean. You’re such an original. Everyone in this town is so obsessed with looking younger, meanwhile Sean is like, ” What if I slowly morph into a sexy leather handbag! Even HE had to laugh!!!

Lots of comics appeared on the show and won awards like Amy Poehler, who won for Best Podcast, for ” Good Hang With Amy Poehler”, while Joe Rogan whose podcast is #1 on Spotify wasn’t even nominated.

**AMY POEHLER ON THE RED CARPET FOR ET NETWORK**

Kevin Hart was on the red carpet and Judd Apatow presented the award for Best Diirector and joked that he was on a “10-year quiet boycott” after his film Trainwreck lost the Best Comedy award in 2016.

Pamela Anderson and Miley Cyrus presented the award for Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy Motion Picture, and I really didn’trecognize Pam Anderson. She looked so different than when I first met her.

THE JACKIE MASON MUSICAL AT RODNEY’S

The Jackie Mason Musical”, is sometimes also known as Both Sides of a Famous Love Affair: The Jackie Mason Musical. It’s an off-Broadway production starring Sheba Mason, the real-life daughter of comedian Jackie Mason. but playing her mother GInger Reiter, who created the concept ,and wrote the dialogue, music and lyrics for the play. An incredible achievement! Jackie Mason is played by Ian Wehrle who is so much like Jackie Mason , he’s absolutely perfect for the role. I had seen it a couple of times but I went to see it again at Rodney’s because it’s so good!

Unfortunately the play is based on a true story, and you’ll see why I say that in a moment. It’s the story of how Jackie was involved with GInger Reiter in a ten year-long affair and had this wonderful daughter but never acknowledged her as his daughter throughout his entire life, despite the fact of a nasty paternity suit, and that she looks exactly like him. A fact she often jokes about!

Sheba’s a great girl and so funny. It’s definitely Jackie’s loss not to have acknowledged her. She and I once did a comedy show at a funeral, which is a crazy story for another time, and I’ve done her show at 3 Monkeys several times.

**WITH SHEBA MASON AT HER SHOW AT 3 MONKEYS**

Ginger wrote a masterful piece that truly portrays what Jackie was like and I can vouch for that because I was part of his “entourage” for many years. I knew Jackie well for more than 25 years. Jackie was one of the funniest men that ever lived but a very complicated and often stubborn, and very difficult man to get along with, and that’s putting it mildly. What kind of man doesn’t acknowledge his own daughter? Mister, you know what I’m talkin’ about???

I remember how excited my Mom was when I brought her to meet Jackie backstage after one of his 8 one-man shows on Broadway.

**JACKIE MASON WITH MY MOM, MARJORIE GURIAN BACK IN 2005**

I actually wrote a movie for Jackie which he bought, called “The Detective” in which he played a Jewish ( what else?) bumbling private eye named Harry Snavish, on the syle of Inspector Clouseau, who accidentally becomes a hero, by saving the world from a dreaded “pants virus” that would have destroyed every pair of pants in the country leaving us a nation of men in our underwear. Terororists knew they couldn’t beat us militarily so they wanted to humiliate us in the eyes of the world and Snavish manages to save the day.

**THROWING JEWISH GANG SIGNS WITH JACKIE MASON**

The musical has a really fun talented cast including producer Laura Slutsky and even Mark Yosef the owner of Rodney’s Comedy Club who was up on stage acting and singing his little heart out!

**THE WHOLE CAST WITH LAURA SLUTSKY IN THE PINK TOP**

COMEDY COMMUNITY COMES OUT FOR THE PARTIES

Comedy can often feel very lonely because it’s mostly a solo event. You write alone, rehearse alone and you’re usually on stage alone. So it’s a wonderful feeling when the comedy community actually gets together like they do for the holiday parties. Emilio Savone, owner and face of all five New York Comedy Clubs told me that I had the distinct honor of being the ONLY person he texted about the party to make sure I showed up, because as he always kindly says, ” It’s not a party unless you’re there”! (LOL)

It was at the 4th street location and I got there early to get the pizza while it was still fresh. It was already crowded with lots of my favorite people. It was so great to see my pals Joe DeRosa and Brian Quinn from The Impractical Jokers. I almost didn’t recognize Brian because the last time I saw him he didn’t have that huge beard. Joe and I are planning to do another video since the success of Mouth On My Money, and as sick as it sounds, I have been named the official dancer for Joe’s band Salsa Windfall! Besides trying to see him at parties, you can also see Joe featured in the new Kill Tony special on Netflix!

GOTHAM HOLIDAY PARTY

Chris Mazzilli always plans his annual holiday party AFTER New Years which makes it even more special. It’s another amazing event, so well attended with an open bar, and an assortment of hot and cold food, lots of sliders, and platters of sushi. One of the first people I saw was Brian Fischler who has a new seeing-eye dog named Wesley, and when I told him I’m producing a big charity event there on Tuesday 2/24/26 he told me he’s done 18 events at Gotham for his charity “Fight for Sight.”

The party not only drew comedians but also industry as Chris is connected to everyone on both sides of the camera, in particular Conan Smith from the Buchwald Agency, one of the good ones!!! (LOL)

And so glad I got to see Bonnie McFarlane who besides being Rich Vos’s wife is one of the funniest comics in the game and was also one of the writers on The Golden Globes. It was so exciting to see her name in the credits. A well deserved honor! And reuniting with Chris Roach was also cool. I made him sit down for the photo so you’d be able to see both of us, and we were photobombed by Harrison Greenbaum. I never saw Harrison and it was probably one of his amazing magic tricks that he suddenly appeared out of nowhere!

Also got to reunite with Robin Montague who writes for the daytime Emmy award winning Sherri show starring the great Sherri Shepherd, and Subhah Agarwal who many years ago started on my late night show at The Comic Strip and just moved back to NY from Cali. I saw Subhah again a few nights later when I was performing at the new comedy room Room 52 started by Adam Strauss. A really cool space on East 52nd Street.

**WITH ROBIN MONTAGUE WRITER FOR SHERRI**

KOSHER COMEDY ON AND AT BROADWAY

Thanks to Kenny Gluck Jewish comics have something to do on Chistmas Eve and I was so glad to get to do a set at the new and upgraded Broadway Comedy Club on the eve of December 24th. Since it’s founder the great Al Martin left the stage, they really updated the club and made it look much more modern. A really fun show with a great, … I would guess mostly Hebraic crowd!

BORSCHT BELT FESTIVAL CONTINUES TO GROW

Alejandro Morales is the comic/producer responsible for keeping the Borscht Belt Festival growing bigger and bigger as time goes on. This past July we celebrated it’s 2nd year with a whole bunch of shows and a special event honoring Robert Klein at the Borscht Belt Museum. So I was very glad when I got the call asking me to be the first headliner of the new year series. I did 45 minutes to a packed crowd at Shadowlands Stages.

I may be the only one around who actually worked with the Borscht Belt stars of yesteryear as well as the stars of today. Milton Berle, AKA Mr. Television was my sponsor in The Friars Club, and I got to write for him, Jerry Lewis, Jackie Mason, Pat Cooper, Joan Rivers, Dick Capri, Morty Gunty, Dick Shawn, Freddie Roman, and so many others who graced the stages of the Borscht Belt, whether it was at Grossingers, The Concord, The Nevele, The Fallsview or any of the other multitude of hotels and bungalow colonies that were up in The Catskills.

One of the weirdest and most fun experiences I ever had was this past weekend, being put into the Honors Haven Resort as literally the only guest on the premises. This huge resort which was once the Fallsview Hotel. now only books groups and somehow there were groups the previous weekend and the following weekend but not the weekend I was there.

Big thank you to Naomi Brill for arranging that for me. I brought my assistant Dave ” The Ironer” who started out ironing people’s clothes at parties and hot clubs in NY, even on the dance floor, if they looked wrinkled. So it was just the two of us in this entire huge, gorgeous resort! So in our downtime we made this little video:

MEL BROOKS THE 99 YEAR OLD MAN

Judd Apatow and Mike Bonfiglio both of whom I have the pleasure of calling friends have Exec. Produced and directed a fabulous 2 part HBO documentary on Mel Brooks called “Mel Brooks – The 99 Year Old Man” kind of a take-off on his 2000 Year Old Man that he did with his dear friend, the late Carl Reiner. It’s a masterful piece of work that must have taken years to create! The editor deserves an award of some kind as well!

And Judd must have been so excited sitting with Mel and doing the interviews,. I know how I felt sitting with legends I saw as a kid, like Milton Berle, Jerry Lewis, Sid Caesar, George Burns, Woody Allen and Jackie Mason. I’m glad he gave himself screentime as opposed to the docs where you just hear the interviewer speaking offfscreen.

**WITH THE GREAT MEL BROOKS WHEN HE WAS ONLY 90**

The film is filled with sound bytes and video from the comedy greats of yesteryear like Sid Caesar, Milton Berle, and Richard Pryor, several scenes with poor Rob Reiner, as well as the stars of today like Jerry Seinfeld, Nick Kroll. Sarah Silverman, Adam Sandler, Ben Stiller, Dave Chappelle, Ronny Chieng and my friend Nick Brooks one of Mel’s sons. It’s a must see if you like comedy and if you’re reading this column I have to assume you do. I stayed up till 3:30 A.M. watching both parts. I tried to leave to go to sleep but I just couldn’t do it!!! (LOL)

In watching the doc I came to realize how much I had been influenced by Mel and Carl in early films I did like interviewing a woman married to a well known busimessman who turned out to be an infant, and an interview with a woman who was robbed by two men disguised as jewelry, the dreaded Masters of Disguise!

MISS BRAZIL DROPS BY THE COMEDY MATTERS CRIB

So nice of comedy fan Gizele ( Miss Brazil) to take time off from her national tour to visit me at the Comedy Matters crib!

OWNING MANHATTAN- THE PARTY

In truth it’s not a comedy, Owning Manhattan is reality TV, the Netflix hit about Serhant Realty and the exciting world of real estate, but a lot of funny stuff goes on and Ryan Serhant is definitely a force. I had met him years ago when he was doing Million Dollar Listing and then he created Serhant Realty and it’s taking over the country! The man sells $60-$100 million of real estate a month. For anyone who doesnt know, … that’s a lot of money!!! Truthfully that’s more than some people make in a year!!!

**WITH REAL ESTATE SUPERSTAR RYAN SERHANT**

So I got invited to the party for the 2nd season downtown in the beautiful Serhant townhouse that serves as his office. I got to be interviewed in a couple of videos and got to meet my favorite Serhant team member on the show, Genesis Suero a true superstar in the making! Even in this climate of high interest rates,who wouldn’t take out a mortgage to buy something from Genesis???

MIKA LORENZO ON THE RISE

Up and coming comic Mika Lorenzo will be hosting at Gotham Comedy Club on Feb. 4th and just had the honor of introducing Jerry Seinfeld to the Gotham crowd on another night he was hosting. He’ll be doing what he describes as a mini-special on Feb. 28th at Fear City on the Lower east Side, and there’s a good chance that I will be on the show!!! This column has to end somewhere and I think this is a good time for that to happen!

THIS COLUMN WILL ALSO APPEAR ON SUBSTACK AND YOU CAN FOLLOW JEFFREY ON INSTAGRAM AT @JEFFREYGURIAN AND ON TIKTOK AT @JEFFREYLGURIAN AND THANKS TO MANY SUGGESTIONS, COMEDY MATTERS IS NOW ON PATREON AFTER ALL THESE YEARS TO HELP DEFRAY THE COSTS INVOLVED. CLICK ON THE LINK TO SEE THE DIFFERENT TIERS. https://www.patreon.com/c/comedymatterstv/shop?vanity=comedymatterstv

Tags: Alejandro Morales, Borsacht Belt Comedy Festival, Borscht Belt Museum, Brian Quinn, Chris Roach, comedy parties, Emilio Savone, Gotham Comedy Club, Harrison Greenbaum, Impractical Jokers, Jackie Mason, Jeffrey Gurian, Joe DeRosa, Judd Apatow, Mel Brooks, New York Comedy Club, Nikki Glaser, Robin Montague, Sheba Mason, Sherri Shepherd, Subhah Agarwal

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COMEDY MATTERS ROUND-UP WITH JEREMY PIVEN, CHRIS DISTEFANO, JEFF ROSS, JOE LIST, MARK NORMAND, CORINNE FISHER, NYCF, GROSSINGERS DOC PREMIERE AND SO MUCH MORE!!!

Posted by Jeffrey Gurian on November 24, 2025

JEREMY PIVEN – THE ONLY ACTOR WHO CAN REALLY DO STAND-UP

I’ve been a fan of Jeremy Piven since he created the iconic role of Ari Gold on Entourage. We met when he was performing stand-up at the old Stand Up NY club on West 78th Street. I went expecting to hate it because for some reason many actors and social media influencers think that just because they’re used to being on stage or seen in public, that will automatically translate to them being funny on stage! Couldn’t be further from the truth. Most of them are HORRIBLE!!!

I was invited as a guest of a friend to attend a show recently where a social media influencer was headlining, and I would never mention her name, but she was so bad that the owner of the venue called people the next day to apologize. Fortunately they had a real standup comic open for her which kind of saved the show.

In any case that night at Stand Up I was blown away by Jeremy’s performance, and stage presence. He was a natural and I was so pleasantly surprised I had to tell him when he got off stage, and we’ve been friends ever since. So when I heard he’d be performing at Sony Hall I knew I had to be there.

It was a packed house and I was seated next to my old friends Ice-T and his amazing wife Coco Austin. We were all pleasantly surprised to see each other. Sean Millea a comic I knew from Gary Vaynerchuck’s Vayner Media was one of Jeremy’s openers, and he did great. Although I asked him afterwards how he was able to do certain jokes he chose to do with his mother in the audience! (LOL) I could NEVER with my Mom!!!

**JEREMY PIVEN WITH ICE-T AND THE BEAUTIFUL COCO AUSTIN**

Anyway Jeremy did not disappoint. He’s really so funny and so likable on stage, and he does amazing impressions. His impression of Stallone was truly incredible. Many people lined up after the show to meet him and he’s exceptionally gracious to all of his fans.

We hung out backstage and shot a little video and talked about our respective Moms who we both loved and miss greatly. He’s basically the exact opposite of Ari Gold, which shows you what a good actor he is! But he’s a great stand-up too!!! ( And I’m glad to call him a friend!)

CHRIS DISTEFANO INVITES ME TO PERFORM AT THE CELLAR

November 11th was a very special day for me. Aside from the fact that it was 11/11 which is a very mystical and magical combination of numbers, it was the day I got to perform at the legendary Comedy Cellar at the invitation of Chris Distefano, whose career gets more huge with every passing day. I was with him when he made comedy history by selling out Radio City Music Hall on a Friday night and the very next night sold out MSG Theater! James Mattern, one of the best hosts, and Chris’s usual host was the host that evening and we had a blast! And right from there I ran to perform on Laura Slutsky’s amazing cancer benefit you’ll read about below!

SOHO INTERNATIONAL FILM FEST CELEBRATES SWEET 16

Hard to believe it’s been 16 years since Jorge Ballos created the Soho International Film Fest run by the incredible team of Sibyl and Carlos Santiago, and I make sure to attend every year and do red carpet interviews! Filmmakers and stars come from all over the world, and this year I even got to moderate one of the films, a comedy film called ” A Cell Phone Movie” created by a talented guy named Will Sterling who wrote, produced, directed and starred in the film shot entirely on a cell phone. And the nighttime parties, as well as the closing party were totally awesome!!! Film people definitely know how to party!!! Already looking forward to year 17!!!

**WITH MULTI-TALENTED WRITER/ACTOR/DIRECTOR WILL STERLING**

CORINNE FISHER IS GROWING UP

I first met Corinne Fisher when she was a little girl! At least it seems that way! LOL We worked together for a year when she was new in comedy. And it’s been so fun watching her become the big star, and classy lady she has become. So for her birthday at a really cool place called Pinky Swear she only invited 219 of her closest friends and I think that every single one of them showed up… and more!!!

THE BIRTHDAY GIRL GETS HER CAKE!!!

I know I did, and it was the best time! It was sandwiches from Joe DeRosa’s place Joey Roses, and a kick-ass band called the Up All Nighters which was truly amazing and got everybody going with their high energy and great musical choices!

**WITH CORINNE FISHER, … AND THAT GREEN LIGHT IS HER HEART LIGHT CAUSE SHE HAS SUCH A BEAUTIFUL HEART!!!**

TAMMY PESCATELLI AT THE TRIAD WITH AN AFTER PARTY AT GOTHAM

I’ve known Tammy Pescatelli for a very long time but I’ve known her husband comedian/actor Luca Palanca even longer! So I was really psyched when Luca called me to tell me that Tammy was coming to NY to tape a special, at The Triad Theater one of my favorite places, which will appear again later in this column. I wouldn’t swear to it but I think Tammy told me her special will be called ” Tammy The Bull.”

**(L-R) WITH LUCA PALANCA AND BRIAN HOLTZMAN**

The show was great, packed crowd, and the after-party was in the downstairs lounge at Gotham where I got to meet Brian Holtzman, a wild man who Luca said was the funniest guy he ever met, and who has his own show at Joe Rogan’s Mothership, a club I must get to! His show is called Holtzman and Friends and is on every Thursday night.

LAURA SLUTSKY’S CANCER FUNDRAISER AT THE TRIAD

Since I already mentioned The Triad, I may as well do the piece on producer Laura Slutsky’s show in honor of a man named Ryan Dwars, who beat pancreatic cancer. Laura met him and his wife by chance, took a liking to them, and told him if he could get to the point where he was in remission she’d produce a show in his honor. I guess that was an incentive to him, cause he beat the cancer and Laura produced the show, a 3 hour show with amazing talent and Ryan and his wife traveled up from down South to attend. I was honored to perform.

**(L-R) BOB GREENBERG, DAVE KONIG, SANDY EHLERS, AND YOU KNOW WHO!!!**

NEW YORK COMEDY FESTIVAL IN IT’S 21ST YEAR

The New York Comedy Festival can finally vote and drink legally now since it’s 21 years old! (LOL) I’m pretty sure I’ve been covering it every year, and even got to perform in two shows there the last weekend before it closed after 30 years, thanks to Jeffrey Ross who invited me to do a set on his last show.

Major congratulations to Caroline Hirsch and Andrew Fox as well as their hard-working team of Louis Faranda, Carolyn Gitomer and Greg Charles. I could easily do an entire column on just the shows I saw at the fest, and all the parties I attended but I’ll try and give you a taste of what it was like.

Maybe I’ll just summarize the talent I got to see and where I got to see them, which might make it a bit easier. I was excited to meet Ban Bankas who’s from Canada and came down to do an awesome show at The Gramercy Theater. Ben’s comedy is very much out there, brave, courageous and done in good spirit, where he laughs at himself sometimes, as if he can’t believe what he just said, but you can tell he’s a great guy who loves people. And as someone who had a Chinese girlfriend for many years, I can attest to the fact that his Chinese accent is on point!!! We exchanged info and I hope to see him again!

Joe List and Friends was also held at The Gramercy, … another sold out show, … and as I walked in to the green room I was greeted by Joe, his wife comedian Sarah Tollemache, Mark Normand, Sam Morril, comedy exec Maureen Taran, Liz Furiati who runs The Cellar, and who always calls me “Gurian”, Kerryn Feehan, and Matt Salacuse who was filming the backstage action. The show was amazing, the backdrop named Joe List as ” The Man of the Year” and back stage there was a delicious chocolate cake with that very inscription. Someone couldn’t wait to taste it before I got the pic, and it wasn’t ME!!!!

Right after this show Mark Normand and Matt Ruby did their own show “Shtick or Treat” where they came out dressed as Saudi princes and comics came out in different get-ups doing other comedian’s material. Jeff Ross came out with a wig as the late, great Richard Lewis! Joe and Sarah were on their way to SkankFest in Vegas!!!

Some stand-outs for me at the fest were Gastor Almonte, who has such a unique delivery coupled with clever material, Nacya Marreiro from LA, who came with her dog Oslo, and Richard Villa who were all part of a Latino show at New York Comedy Club. The backstage area was like a party with these fun people, and it was so good to re-connect with Richard who remembered me from when I was out in LA and showed up at the Refried Comedy Show. In the video we shot outside in the street he was mobbed by audience members who needed to tell him how much they loved the show and I left it in the video!

WITH RICHARD VILLA OUTSIDE OF NYCC INCLUDING RAVES FROM THE AUDIENCE

Then I got to see a club I hadn’t been to before , the new and very special Highline Comedy Club run by Tom Luciano, who I told that if the club stayed as successful as it is, they’d call him Lucky Luciano! Great show with Gary Vider, Andy Fiori my pal from Sirius XM days, Meghan Hanley who was a great host, and J.P.McDade. All very funny which is perfect for a comedy show! Really nice room with a huge green room restaurant on the floor above.

**(L-R) ANDY FIORI, GARY VIDER, MEGHAN HANLEY AND J.P. MCDADE**

Another new club I was glad to check out is owned by another guy with only two initials as his first name, my buddy P.J. Landers, who opened the new two story Comedy Village on West 44th Street. Beautiful club. P.J.showed me around and I even tried out the stage!

Speaking of new venues, major congrats to Cris and Paul Italia at The Stand who are making the Chelsea Music Hall into The Stand West. It’s a great space. I’ve been on that stage several times including Seth Herzog’s Sweet shows, and these Italia guys really know how to build a successful club. I got to see Daniel Bridge-Gadd there, hosting the Ed Bassmaster show. Daniel is an ex-football player who transitioned into comedy and is very funny.

**DANIEL BRIDGE-GADD ON STAGE AT THE STAND WEST**

**(L-R) WITH PAUL ITALIA AND LOUIS FARANDA THE HUMBLE LONG-TIME HEAD OF THE NYCF**

Daniel describes himself as a “white-talking Black Jewish guy” which basically covers all the bases, and which explained why he was able to get away with using the “N” word. He’s really light-skinned. As for me, I’m so politically correct I don’t even take the “N” train!!! (LOL)

The Stand East had one of the hottest NYCF parties and lots of fun peeps showed up.

**(L-R) COMEDY EXECS JODI LIEBERMAN, AND ZOE FRIEDMAN**

And the Hard Rock was the main base of operations where I got to see a bunch of new faces and one of the best shows was hosted by Ryan Long, who I hadn’t seen in a long time!

**WITH RYAN LONG AT THE HARD ROCK HOTEL SHOWROOM**

PERIEL AND FRIENDS AT WEST SIDE COMEDY

Comedian Periel Aschenbrand put together a great show at West Side Comedy Club, with Dan Naturman, who she does the Comedy Cellar podcast with, Olga Namer and the incredible Matt Friend. I say “incredible” because on one of his Instagram posts where he literally turns into Rami Malek my comment on his amazing ability to transform himself already has over 1850 likes and climbing every single day.

I have worked with several legendary impressionists in the past like Rich Little, Frank Gorshin, Fred Travalena, and the great political impressionist and my old friend Jim Morris, and Matt Friend is up there with the best of them. It’s uncanny to watch him morph into the person he’s imitating, especially when he does Mitch McConnell! After all my years in comedy, very few things make me laugh out loud. That does!!!

**WITH RICH LITTLE AT A FRIARS ROAST-80’S**

WORLD PREMIERE OF “WE MET AT GROSSINGERS”

A world premiere of any film is always exciting, but even moreso when you’re in the film!!! The tremendous success of the Netflix hit ” The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” spurred a renewed interest in that time period, the 1950’s when the Borscht Belt in upstate New York, had gorgeous hotels like Grossingers, The Concord, Kutcher’s, The Nevele and lots more. Grossingers stood out as it had it’s own airport, a ski slope where they brought in artificial snow so you could ski in the summer, an ice skating rink, indoor and huge outdoor pools, and all the biggest comedy talent of the time.

I was at Grossingers at two different points in my life. As a child.from 10-13, singing solo in the Samuel Sterner choir, that performed there on the High Holy Days, and as an adult writing for the major comedians who performed at the hotel like Milton Berle, who was my sponsor in The Friars Club, Jerry Lewis, Allen and Rossi, Dick Capri, Freddy Roman and tons more.

**ME AT 10 YEARS OLD AT GROSSINGERS WITH MY MOM AND DAD DRESSED TO SING FOR THE HIGH HOLIDAYS** **( FROM THE ORIGINAL PHOTO PACKET!!! REMEMBER THOSE ???)**

That’s why I was honored to be included in this wonderful film that focussed on the life of Jennie Grossinger. Jennie, who always came out to greet me as a child, was the only woman who owned and ran such a huge hotel and was known world-wide for her hospitality, hosting heads of state as well as famous athletes like Jackie Robinson. Jackie broke the color barrier not only in sports but in hotel stays at Grossingers.

Thanks to Harris Salomon of Atlantic Overseas Pictures, who came up with the idea, and Bobby Friedman from Bungalow Entertainment, and especially thanks to award-winning director Paula Eiselt the film is a masterpiece and a very important film for our time, showing the tremendous contribution of the Jewish people to our society, and how they worked hard to include the Black community in places where they were previously not allowed. This film is a “Must See.”

**PROMO PHOTO FOR WE MET AT GROSSINGERS**

**A PANEL WE DID FOR THE FILM AT THE BORSCHT BELT FESTIVAL IN ELLENVILLE, NY**–**HARRIS SALOMON IS IN THE REAR**

Then a few days after the premiere there was a huge party and comedy show at Mr. Purple, a very hip downtown space co-hosted by Patricia Heaton from Everybody Loves Raymond, and comic Judy Gold! And I got to sit with my old pal Robert Klein who was being honored with an award, and who told me he was not planning on performing, but wound up performing anyway due to popular demand!!!

COMEDY MATTERS GIRL OF THE MONTH

**HERE’S TO KATY FOR HER LOVE OF COMEDY AND SUPPORT OF THE COMEDY SCENE**

And with that I thank you all for indulging me with this very long column, but there was just so much to see and do since the last one. I had so much more, it could have been even longer!!!

Until next time, follow Jeffrey on Instagram at @jeffreygurian and on TikTok at @jeffreylgurian and we’ll see you out in the clubs!!! AND PLEASE FEEL FREE TO SHARE THIS WITH A FRIEND WHO LIKES COMEDY!!!

Tags: "Comedy Cellar", "Comedy Matters TV", "Corinne Fisher", "New York Comedy Club", "New York Comedy Festival", "NY Comedy Festival", Ari Gold, Ben Bankas, Chris Distefano, Entourage, Gotham Comedy Club, Gramercy Theater, Jacob Williams, Jeff Ross, Jeffrey Gurian, Jeffrey Ross, Jeremy Piven, Joe List, Mark Normand, Matt Friend, Nacya Marriero, NYCF, Richard Villa, Ryan Long, Sam Morril, Soho International Film Festival, T.J>Miller, The Stand NYC, Triad Theater, West Side Comedy Club, Wild 'n Out

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COMEDY MATTERS – SPECIAL EDITION WITH JEFFREY ROSS ON BROADWAY, CHRIS DISTEFANO AT THE THEATER AT MSG, AND NATE BARGATZE AT THE EMMY’S!

Posted by Jeffrey Gurian on September 15, 2025

JEFF ROSS BRINGS A BANANA TO BROADWAY

I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Jeffrey Ross for more than 20 years, and there’s nothing better than seeing a friend do well, except maybe seeing YOURSELF do well! (LOL) I was at the Roast they did of Jeff Ross back in the day, when my pal uber-manager Barry Katz, who managed Dave Chappelle, Bill Burr, Tracy Morgan, Nick Swardson, Wanda Sykes and so many more, owned the Boston Comedy Club down in the Village! Below are just some of the photos of me and Jeffrey taken over the years!

As a member of The Friars Club for so many years, ( humble brag – Milton Berle was my sponsor! LOL) and as the main writer for the legendary Roasts for 12 years under producer Bob Saks, I was thrilled to watch Jeff climb to the honored position of RoastMaster General. He kind of took over for Milton as being the Roast Master and could always be counted on to absolutely destroy the crowd with such sharp material.

**WITH COMIC STRIP OWNER RICHIE TIENKEN WHEN WE DID JEFF’S INTERVIEW FOR MY BOOK “MAKE ‘EM LAUGH**“

So it was very exciting for me to see Jeffrey attain the honor of having a one-man show on Broadway, which only a handful of other comedians have done, like Jackie Mason and Mike Birbiglia. Other comics like the great Dick Capri, the very first comedian I ever wrote for, were stars in an ensemble like Catskills on Broadway which was still a HUGE honor, but doing it all by yourself is truly a rarity.

“Take A Banana For The Ride” is not only funny but the very touching story of Jeffrey’s life, having lost both of his parents at a very early age, and basically being raised by his maternal grandfather Jack, who he affectionately called “Pop Jack” and who Jeffrey credits for giving him the incentive to be in comedy. As a young man his grandfather would give him a few bucks and told him to “take a banana for the ride” referring to the bus ride from New Jersey to Manhattan where Jeffrey would perform in clubs.

No one outside of comedy knows the struggles you have to face and the obstacles you have to overcome to become known in comedy. It’s truly amazing that anyone ever makes it at all! Besides the personal struggles, which were huge, Jeffrey fortunately overcame a battle with colon cancer, the story of which he makes part of the show, revealing that they had to take 9 inches off of his colon, leaving him with just a “semi-colon”, a great joke that only a true comedian could come up with.

The show is much more than a “performance”, because a performance can feel just that, … like a performance, … like it’s contrived. Jeff speaks from his heart, as if you were with him one on one. It’s very personal. There were moments that It moved me and many people to tears. It needs to have an extended run!!!

**WITH JEFF BACKSTAGE AT THE NEDERLANDER THEATER**

Backstage after the show I had the opportunity to congratulate Jeff personally and reminisce about some special times we shared. Like the time in Montreal at the JFL Festival, when he and I were having lunch together, and a man came over to the table and apologized for interrupting our lunch but told Jeffrey to stay another day, because his film Patriot Act had won the top award! I never forgot that and neither did Jeff!

Then there was the time he lost his phone in an Uber, which is a very traumatic thing, and we were outside of a comedy club in Manhattan, and I felt so bad for him that instead of going inside to watch the show, I stayed with him and we used my phone to track down his phone and actually got it back!

THANK YOU TO STAND-UP COLORING BOOK!

Every once in a while I get contacted by some talented artist who gifts me with something special. This time it was Christian of Stand-Up Coloring Books on Instagram that created this little cartoon thingy for me promoting the new video about me, shot and directed by @TheHomeless Pimp, which you can see below if you are so inclined!!!

NOEL LEON AT EASTVILLE COMEDY

Noel Leon, comic/actress/influencer did a show at Eastville Comedy Club out in Brooklyn and people know that basically the only way to get me out to Brooklyn is to put me on the show, so she did! (LOL) Last year we had done a little film together called “A Walk In The Park” which she described as “an homage to Woody Allen” who was my comedic inspiration. He actually read my earliest material, and encouraged me to go further with it. Also I find it hard to go to Brooklyn because I have no beard!

Noel’s show is more like a performance piece, which would be great in a theater, as she does characters, mixed in with the jokes. She had Kate Robards as the host, with Mickey Gooch, who was there with his family including his Mom, but didn’t let that stop him from doing his material, and the always funny Corinne Fisher from her hit podcast “Guys We F***ed” dropped by to do a guest spot. Always special to see Corinne! Little did I know that I’d have the pleasure of seeing her again the following week backstage at Chris Distefano’s show at The Theater at MSG, which you’ll be reading about next! Totally fun night out in Brooklyn, … even with no beard! !

**PROOF THAT I WAS THERE!!! ((NO BEARD!)**

CHRIS DISTEFANO KILLS IT AGAIN AT MSG THEATER

Everybody loves Chris Distefano. There’s just something about the guy. You gotta love him! And talking about how long I know someone. I know Chris Distefano through his transformation from an infant when he was my guest on Sirius XM’s Ron and Fez show back in 2014 to the rock star he looks like now!

**CHRIS D AS AN INFANT WITH ME ON SIRIUS XM**

So when his manager Emilio Savone, owner of 5 NY Comedy Clubs told me that he would be back at the Theater at MSG for the second time, I told him to save me two seats!

Of course Chris had his main guy James Mattern hosting the show. James opens for Chris all over the world. And I think it’s safe to say that nobody brings the energy like James Mattern, … and the guy doesn’t even need a mic! He could be whispering and you’re like ” James, tone it down!” LOL He gets the audience psyched and won’t even let Chris come out ’til they are at a fever pitch!

“Aruba Ray” Ellin flew in from Aruba … where he spends half the year performing at his own comedy club, … to be the first comic to entertain after James warmed up the crowd. Ray is reliably funny and takes self-deprecating humor to another level. Every audience loves self-deprecating humor cause it males them feel like they’re ok, but when Ray does a thing about his hair that makes him look like certain historical figures, the audience is screaming with laughter.

I’ll never forget the first night I met Ray, many, many years ago at The Comic Strip. I don’t even know if he remembers this. I started Comedy Matters 25 years ago and it was fairly new when this happened, but Ray saw me taking notes at his show, and didn’t know I was writing a column. He thought I was copying down his jokes, and when he found out the truth we both had a good laugh about it, and have been friends ever since.

He even hosted a diabetes fund-raiser for me at The Strip and starred in a little film I wrote for YouTube star Lauren Francesca, who played a character known as Besame Mucho, the best kisser in the world, and Ray had to kiss her in the film. I think he still owes me for that! (LOL)

( Well, … he did invite me down to Aruba this coming March, so that’s something!!! )

Then James announced a very special guest and Colin Quinn came out to thunderous applause. Colin and I go back probably even before I started writing Comedy Matters, to the days he was doing MTV’s Remote Control, and I was writing for MTV’s Friday Night Video Fights! We were both children, and MTV was in it’s infancy! LOL

Colin was my very first guest on Sirius XM with Ron Bennington and Fez Whatley back in 2014. I knew him before he had any facial hair. Then we did an episode of Crashing together at The Comedy Cellar back in 2018 and in December of 2023 I got to open for him at the Vermont Comedy Festival and we had a blast hanging out and running around Vermont for the weekend. Then we drove back to NY together. It’s ALWAYS great to see Colin!

**WITH COLIN QUINN BACKSTAGE AT THE THEATER AT MSG AFTER CHRIS D’S SHOW-9/11/25**

After the show we all got to hang out backstage which as I always say is the fun part for me. It’s the part that most people never get to see! But that’s why you read this column! (LOL) Here’s a sneak peek for you guys, starting with the ovation Chris got after the show!

**WITH MY MAN CHRIS D AT THE THEATER AT MSG**

THE PROGRESSION OF NATE BARGATZE

No one can ever tell me I don’t have a good eye for talent. When I brought Nate Bargatze on Sirius XM as my guest back in 2014, I knew he’d be big, but had no idea HOW big! Highest grossing comedy performer in Boxscore history in 2024, when his “The Be Funny Tour” brought in 82.2 million buckaroos! In 2023 his special “Hello World” on Amazon Prime became the platform’s most-streamed original comedy special in its first 28 days of viewership, and this Sunday he Exec. Produced and hosted The Emmy awards on CBS at the Peacock Theater in LA. I think that’s a pretty big thing! And he looks like a different person! Success does that for people. It allows you to become who you were meant to be!

And this is how he looks now hosting The Emmy’s!!!

**NATE BARGATZE HOSTING THE 2025 EMMY’S**

Sorry but that’s it for this issue! More coming soon, but I wanted to get the Jeffrey Ross story out asap to encourage the powers that be to extend the show!

Make sure to follow Jeffrey on IG at @jeffreygurian and on TikTok at @jeffreylgurian and of course on YouTube when you watch the videos in this column!!! Bye for now!!!

Tags: backstage interview, backstage passes, celebrity interview, Chris Distefano, Comedy, Comedy Matters TV, Frairs Roast, Friars Club, Jeff Ross, Jeffrey Gurian, Jeffrey Ross on Broadway, Nate Bargatze, Noel Leon, RoastMaster General, Ron Bennington, Sirius XM radio, Sold Out Show, Stand Up Comedy, Take a Banana For The Ride, The Emmy Awards, The Theater at Madison Square Garden, TV host, vip access, VIP interview

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COMEDY MATTERS ROUND-UP WITH NICK KROLL, MARC MARON, JIM GAFFIGAN, MIKE BIRBIGLIA, HASAN MINHAJ, JIM GAFFIGAN, JEFF GARLIN, BORSCHT BELT COMEDY AND LOTS MORE!!!

Posted by Jeffrey Gurian on August 25, 2025

**MIKE BIRBIGLIA AND HASAN MINHAJ AT 92Y TALKING ABOUT MIKE’S LATEST HIT SPECIAL “THE GOOD LIFE”**

92NY KILLING IT ON THE COMEDY SCENE

In this issue of Comedy Matters alone there are three killer events at the 92nd Second Street Y! So kudos to 92NY!!! As for the first event, let me say that there are very few comics who can pull off solo shows. And even less ones who can turn them into films. Mike Birbiglia is one of those guys who can!

I’ve known MIke since the early 2000’s and have the photos to prove it! ( See below) And I’ve been a big fan of his ever since I saw his first one-man show “Sleepwalk With Me”, back in 2008 at the Bleecker Street Theater. It was presented by Broadway star Nathan Lane, and it was a huge hit! Thanks to Mike, I have’t been able to get word “jackal” out of my consciousness for the last 17 years. If you saw the show, you’ll get it.

**WITH MIKE BACKSTAGE SOMEWHERE EARLY 2000’S**

The sight of what he thought was a jackal in his bedroom, while sleep-walking, caused him to leap out the window in order to escape it. Thank G-d he survived because he’s done five more solo shows since, that people needed to see, and I believe I’ve seen them all. My Girlfriend’s Boyfriend, Thank G-d for Jokes, The New One, The Old Man In The Pool, and currently The Good Life which they played at the 92Y before Mike took the stage for a conversation with Hasan Minhaj,another great comic story-teller. Putting them together on the stage was a masterful choice.

**WITH MIKE BACKSTAGE AT THE CORT THEATER FOR “THE NEW ONE”**–**CIRCA 2018**

Mike has a way of tackling difficult topics like his Dad’s stroke, and making it touching and funny at the same time. He also talked a lot about fatherhood in a way you can tell how happy he is to be a Dad. It’s always interesting to me personally cause I knew all these guys when they were single and now they’re Dads! LOL The show is definitely a must-see, and is streaming on Netflix, his 4th Netflix special.

I had gotten a taste of it when Mike did a guest spot on Judd Apatow’s show at The Beacon Theater last November during the New York Comedy Festival. And when I went backstage to see Mike we talked about his Dad’s stroke and how he was doing at the time.

Hasan’s latest special, his third on Netflix is called “Off With His Head” . I’ve been at all of his other two specials as well, the first being “Homecoming King” back around 2016, and then “The King’s Jester” in 2022. Doing a one-man show is such a different medium. I too had always wanted to do a one man show, but I could never figure out who that one man should be!!! Just a few of my Hasan memories!!!

**FROM MY DANCING WITH COMEDIANS SERIES-1/8/16**

After the show as I always do, I went backstage to say hi and congratulate them both. Mike was running out to an event but kindly took a moment to run over for a quick hug, and then I got to see Hasan!

JEFF GARLIN REPS OLD JEWISH MEN

Old Jewish Men is a popular site on Instagram and for the second spectacular 92NY comedy event, Jeff Garlin agreed to be placed in that category in conversation with Noah Rinsky, the young Jewish man who wrote the book “The Old Jewish Men’s Guide to Eating, Sleeping, and Futzing Around” moderated by a real Rabbi, Rabbi David Ingber, who I’m not sure got all the jokes, since Rabbi’s are rarely known for their sense of humor!

When it comes to Judaism they have it down pat, but the number of Rabbis doing stand-up is probably very small, although I actually did see one at the Borscht Belt Fest, and more on that later on in this column!

Jeff told a funny story about his Bar Mitzvah, and how he put on a happy face for his Mom, but the truth was the only good thing about it in his estimation was the cake! And Jeff must have lost about a hundred pounds in recent years, so the memory of that cake may be the only cake he gets these days!

JEFF GARLIN ON HIS BAR MITZVAH

MARC MARON AND JIM GAFFIGAN PANICKED

The third 92NY comedy event was with Marc Maron in conversation with Jim Gaffigan, another amazing coupling of talent. It was part of the Newmark Civic Life Series at 92NY, and in each of these events I’ve known these guys for many years and I recall being at Marc’s show ” Scorching The Earth” back in 2008, mostly about his break-up with his second wife Mishna, who I also knew well.

That show left an indelible impression on me that has never left. I actually recall where I sat, 17 years ago, because I think I was traumatized by the honesty of his performance, and our traumas are deeply engrained in our consciousness. I didn’t know that anyone could be that vulnerable on stage or would want to be that vulnerable. I know I couldn’t do it!

In “Panicked” the opening was very political leading into studies of his anxieties, and relationships. like the one with his father who has dementia, and the theme of aging, all through Marc’s unique perspective. At the 92Y you get the opportunity to fill out question cards before the show, and I was wondering if I wrote something personal to both him and Jim whether they’d read it out loud, or possibly roast me in front of the entire audience so I chose not to do it!

I did get to say “Hi” afterwards when Marc stayed on the stage for a few minutes greeting fans. I had sent JIm an e-mail before the show to let him know I was coming, but he wrote back to me the next day to apologize that he didn’t see it till the day after! Oh well! ( The photos below show how long I know these guys!!! And NONE of us have aged one bit!!! LOLOLOL)

**WITH MARC AT SCORCHING THE EARTH**-2009

NICK KROLL IN FREE SHOW AT MADISON SQUARE PARK

New Yorkers got a special treat on one of the hottest nights of the year both literally and figuratively. It was 95 degrees and Nick Kroll brought his talents and his close comedy friends Rachel Feinstein, Ricky Velez, Sam Jay, and Jason Mantzoukas to do a free show for 1500 people spread out on the lawn of the beautiful Madison Square Park where Nick’s wife Lily Kwong created the beautiful installation known as “The Gardens of Renewal.”

She worked in collaboration with the Madison Square Conservancy to transform the park into a living artwork with special plantings, including a beautiful Meditation Garden and an interactive Children’s Garden. Lily was there as well.

The weird thing for me was that I was due at the same time at an event out on Staten Island which is an hour trip, but I didn’t went to miss seeing Nick perform. so I went there first knowing I could not stay for the whole thing. There was heavy security and metal stanchions closing off the space where Nick was hanging out “backstage” in kind of a tent with Jason Mantzoukas who I even recognized from the back! Some people, … like myself, … seem to be easily recognizable even from far away! (LOL)

**NICK AND JASON MANTZOULAS IN THE TENT**

You had to sign in with people in order to get to the area where Nick was hanging out, but I planned to watch the show from outside the metal stanchions so hopefully I could leave without disturbing anyone. That worked until Nick spotted me loitering at the gates and yelled out something like ” Let Jeffrey Gurian in” which I was very grateful for. So I went in and took a seat on the ground with everyone else, and got to see Rachel and Nick perform before I had to leave. A commitment is a commitment! But seeing Nick perform even for a few moments is always worth it to me!

Nick led the 1500 person audience in a guided meditation and issued an unusual challenge!!!

MARCUS RUSSELL PRICE AND THE HOMELESS PIMP BOTH VISIT THE COMEDY MATTERS CRIB

Not together but at separate times two of the most celebrated photographers and videographers on the comedy scene honored me with a visit to the Comedy Matters crib to check out my Comedy Museum, and shoot fun stuff with me! It would be hard to find a major comedy event where you wouldn’t see Marcus running up and down the aisle shooting pix of the action, and then again backstage. Even backstage at shows at places like City Winery like a recent show where Nick Kroll did a guest headliner spot!

**WITH MARCUS RUSSELL PRICE IN FRONT OF ONE OF THE WALLS OF THE COMEDY MATTERS MUSEUM**

Both of these guys also shoot and direct comedy specials, and Marcus has also produced shows, some of which I attended at Lincoln Center! ( Classy guy!!!) I think Pimp told me he directed 30 comedy specials already.

I got to experience Pimp’s talent when he filmed me on Chris DiStefano’s podcast, and for Joe DeRosa’s music video “Mouth On My Money.” He did such an extraordinary job of adding hilarious special effects, like where there was about 100 of me on the screen all doing different moves.

I neglected to say that my part was dancing like a maniac to the song played by Joe’s group Salsa Windfall. I keep meaning to ask Joe how he chose that name! When I agreed to do the part I had no idea I’d be dancing alone! (LOL) It was one of the most fun things I’ve ever done and I totally challenged myself to do it! You can see it here! ( Above!) Btw, Joe just got to perform on a Dave Chapelle live show!

Anyway I had a blast with both Marcus and Pimp. We shot lots of video, … even of me playing the piano, … which is still being edited by both of them. but which you will be seeing very shortly!!! Personally I can’t wait!!! This is a little video I shot with Pimp!

PODCAST KING COMES TO VISIT

It was truly a month for people visiting, shooting videos and recording podcasts at the Comedy Matters crib. Radio legend Buzz Knight, who produces the podcast Music Saved Me, through his company Buzz Knight Media, now also produces two other podcasts including “Takin’ A Walk” and the one most pertinent to readers of this column ” Comedy Saved Me.”

The “Music Saved Me” podcast, as well as “Comedy Saved Me” is hosted by Lynn Hoffman, a superstar radio and TV celeb interviewer, known for the intimate depth of her interviews, and It explores music’s healing and transformative power by featuring personal stories from musicians who have been impacted by their art. Now they’re doing comedy, and I was honored to be a guest! And strictly by coincidence the podcast came out this morning!

**WITH BUZZ KNIGHT IN FRONT OF TWO OF THE WALLS OF THE COMEDY MATTERS MUSEUM**

When Buzz came by to see the famed “Comedy Museum” with photos going back decades, he decided we should also tape an interview for “Takin’ A Walk”, which included an in-depth interview of my long history in comedy. Will be out very soon and the link will be posted!!!

BORSCHT BELT FEST A BIG SUCCESS

The tremendous success of Netflix’s The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel has led to a resurgence of interest in that time, … the 50’s, when hotels like Grossingers, The Concord, and The Nevele were the place to be seen.

The Catskill mountains resorts were known as The Borscht Belt because many of he early immigrants who built the hotels and came to stay were Eastern European Jews who ate borscht. Not sure if I ever had any , but it was a soup made from beets. I may not have had any borscht but I certainly frequented the Borscht Belt. It’s where many comedians performed before the days of comedy clubs. I was there as a child, singing solo in a choir and also as an adult, meeting and writing for the various comedians that performed there.

I was recenly in several scenes of a new documentary called ” We Met At Grossingers” Exec-produced by Harris Salomon of Atlantic Overseas Pictures and Bobby Friedman of Bungalow Entertainment, and directed by award-winning director Paula Eiselt. They had their LA premiere on July 9th.

**WITH DIRECTOR PAULA EISELT AT GOTHAM COMEDY CLUB**

It’s the 4th doc on comedy I’ve been in and we shot my scenes at Gotham Comedy Club, where I was interviewed by Paula and Bennett Elliot and where I brought some photos from back in the day as well as postcards I collected as a child from Grossingers, which are still in pristine condition. The other films I was in were a doc on Robin Willams, which I think was called ” Robin Wiliams- Come Inside My Mind”, “The Business of Comedy”, and “Eat, Drink and Laugh- The Story of The Comic Strip.”

Harris and renowned writer Alan Zweibel, the man who gave me my start in comedy, have created a scripted series called “The Mountains” of which you’ll be hearing a lot about in the near future.

Now in Ellenville, NY there is a Borsct Belt Museum and for the third year in a row they sponsor the Borscht Belt Comedy Festival over a weekend at the end of July. There was an opening night party on Friday night, and a lot of fun shows over Saturday and Sunday culminating in a street fair on Sunday afternoon.

**SOME KIND PERSON POSTED THIS PHOTO OF ME ON STAGE**

Robert Klein was honored with an event at the museum, where there were posters of Milton Berle, Jerry Lewis, Joan Rivers and all the other people I had the honor of working with. One of the highlights for me besides headlining two of the shows on Saturday and Sunday was finally meeting comedian Jeff Capri, the son of the very first comedian who ever hired me to write for him, the great Dick Capri ,who left us so recently at 93 years of age. I also got to re-connect with Sandy Hackett the son of the legendary Buddy Hackett. He and Jeff were doing a show together.

It was a great time and I’m sending a big shoutout to Robin Kauffman from the Borscht Belt board, and comic/booker Alejandro Morales, who just announced that he’s moving to Chile!

PICK UP ON THE PICK UP WITH PETE DAVIDSON, EDDIE MURPHY AND KEKE PALMER

Next time you’re home with nothing to do, and you wanna see Pete Davidson be hilariously funny in a starring role opposite Eddie Murphy and Keke Palmer, just go to Amazon Prime and look for The Pickup. It’s an action-comedy heist film where Pete and Eddie play two mismatched armored truck drivers who get involved in a crazy, wild, dangerous situation when a routine cash pickup goes awry thanks to Keke Palmer, who plays a very interesting role. Especially in the opening! So great to see Pete doing so well and on his way to becoming a Dad!!!

I’ve known Pete since he was a teen and used to come do my late night show at The Comic Strip, when I was co-hosting with Jordan Rock. I did Sunday and Monday nights, and Jordan did Tuesday and Wednesday! Pete would come in with Jordan and was funny from the jump. Then he got taken under Nick Cannon’s wing, and wound up on SNL for 8 seasons. He’s always been a great guy, and I’ll never forget when he introduced me to someone important to him by saying, ” This is Jeffrey Gurian, a guy you can trust!!!” To me that’s the most important thing someone can say about you!!!

The film also features Eva Longoria playing Eddie’s wife and Andrew “Dice” Clay playing the armored car owner/dispatcher! I hold the honor of being one of the only people ever to write for “Dice” and he says it openly cause he’s that kind of guy!!!

**TAKING AWAY A HEADACHE FROM “DICE” OUT IN LA IN 1998** AT THE ICONIC MEL;S; DINER

PLAYING A BAD MAGICIAN

I got hired to play a failed magician in an online commercial! Luckily I had a moustache collection and a derby, … cause you never know when you might need such things!!! Click the link to watch!

I think that’s enough for this column. More coming soon. In the meantime follow Jeffrey on Instagram at @jeffreygurian and on TikTok at @jeffreylgurian and I’ll see you out there Iin the clubs!!! And if you have any fun ideas or would like him to be in your show or project, you can reach Jeffrey at jeffrey@jeffreygurian.com

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Comedy Matters Round-Up With Highlights of NY Comedy Fest, Judd Apatow, JB Smoove, Jiaoying Summers, Gilbert Tribute and so much more!!!

Posted by Jeffrey Gurian on November 26, 2024

**WITH JUDD APATOW AT HIS SHOW “JUDD APATOW AND FRIENDS” AT THE BEACON THEATER**

I have to start this column with a shout-out to “The Queen of NY Comedy” Caroline Hirsch and Andrew Fox for this amazing 20th year of the New York Comedy Festival. Over 100 shows in 5 boroughs. They actually ran out of boroughs or there would have been more!!!

Next I have to thank their amazing hard-working team, namely Louis Faranda, head of booking, who’s been with Caroline the entire time, Greg Charles long-time head of publicity, and Carolyn Gitomer and Jonny Moran who work with Louis to make sure that everything runs smoothly. And it does!!!

CHRIS DISTEFANO – NEW YORK’S NEXT MAYOR?????

In the order of shows I attended, I started with Chris DiStefano’s “Hat Trick” which kicked off the festival’s first night. Chris did three shows in a row at each of New York Comedy Club’s venues. Six P.M. for the first show on East 4th Street, 7 P.M. for the 2nd show on 24th Street, and 9:30 at the new location on the West side where Stand Up NY used to be. I love their huge green room cause it’s big and they always have candy!

MY INTERVIEW WITH NEW YORK’S NEXT MAYOR

Owner Emilio Savone is amazing and now has five locations! We often reminisce how he started out as a ticket seller at The Comic Strip when I was writing the book on that legendary venue, that features a foreword by Chris Rock. I have some amazing news about Chris D. that I promised to keep secret until they’re ready for the world to know. So don’t even ask cause I won’t tell. But I do think he’ll make a great Mayor!!! ( Watch the video above!)

I’m good at keeping secrets. I kept a secret for Jerry Seinfeld for three months when he was doing his Netflix special at The Comic Strip. He asked me not to write about where he was doing it, and it would have made a great scoop but I don’t do things like that! I would never ruin a relationship for a scoop! Not even for Jason Scoop!!! (LOLOL)

LOTS OF GARBAGE AT CHELSEA MUSIC HALL!!!

There were so many shows to choose from it was really hard to make a choice but the next night I went to see Are You Garbage, an audience participation show at one of my favorite venues, Michael Ginsberg’s Chelsea Music Hall where Seth Herzog does his Sweet shows. It was H. Foley, and Kevin Ryan with guests Sam Morril, and Mike Cannon. There may have been more but I had to leave to catch Judd Apatow and Friends at the Beacon Theater.

**(L-R) Sam Morril, Kevin Ryan, and H.Foley in “Are You Garbage?”**

JUDD APATOW AND FRIENDS SELL OUT THE BEACON

It was absolutely no surprise that the show was sold out for the man I refer to as “The King of Hollywood”, but with my All Access Pass I was able to hang backstage until luckily one single seat happened to open up. What’s special about Judd is that with all of his success people who have never met him will be glad to know he’s still a humble guy! Success has not gone to his head!

He opened up with a really strong probably 20 minute set, brought out the always funny Ricky Velez, who has a Judd-produced special, then he introduced Loudon Wainwright Jr. who did about 5 songs, and then Mike Birbiglia who I caught up with backstage and who did pieces from his new show “The Good Life” which he’ll be performing this coming March! Can’t wait! Mike has done more one man shows than anyone I know since Jackie Mason!

Among other things Mike talked about his Dad’s stroke, which was made even more difficult because his Dad is a neurologist, so he knows everything they are doing for him, and maybe even more than they do. When I first met Ricky and Mike they didn’t have kids. Now Mike has a 9 year old daughter and Ricky has a six year old son! And speaking of kids, Judd’s daughter Iris was there and brought a ton of her friends! So special for a Dad. That’s the kind of stuff I like to talk about. There was a professional photographer backstage that got great photos of everyone. I on the other hand did the best I could! (LOL) Don’t judge me! (LOL)

Judd made it extra special for me by agreeing to participate in a really big project looming on the horizon that I’m involved with, along with D.L. Hughley, Jeffrey Ross, J.B. Smoove who also said “Yes”, Chris DiStefano, Colin Quinn, Mark Normand, Joe List and several more big names!

KATIE BOYLE ROCKS NYCC

Next on my journey was Katie Boyle’s special taped at New York Comedy Club on 24th Street. I love her accent and as you’ll see in the video below, … the audience did too!

NATALIE ORTEGA IS WICKEDLY FUNNY

Natalie Ortega’s Funny Girls was another stand-out performance for me again back at Chelsea Music Hall. It was an all women’s show but Natalie really stood out for me. She’s a natural and a real multi-talented comedy force. She has a role as Nessa Rose in Wicked on Broadway but she told me her great love is stand up comedy and she’s really good. She brings a level of excitement to the stage that’s palpable. I was so impressed I couldn’t wait to tell her. And I waited till right after her original song titled ” I Want To F**k Pete Davidson”! That’s really the name of the song. It’s not a cover. It’s original! I asked her if she knew him and she said “Not yet!” I can’t wait to tell Pete!

BEFORE WE GET STARTED

Ryan Reiss had a big honor during the festival. It was one of the main shows at The Hard Rock Hotel which was the base of operations for the festival. Six years of hard work led to a documentary film in which he starred called “Before We Get Started.” It was about the world of warm up comics. At one special point in the film Ryan gets to pitch his idea for a TV show to Howie Mandel, which was a long time dream of his. You actually get to see it happen on camera!

Every TV show has a warm up comic. It’s a very different form of comedy than just coming out and doing your act for 15 minutes. The star of the show depends on you to get the audience psyched and ready for their appearance. Ryan and producer Pete Demas showed the film to a packed, sold-out room at The Hard Rock, and it was fantastic! A must see for anyone who loves and appreciates how hard it is to do comedy. And long time warm-ups like Tom Kelly, Gary Cannon, and Joey Kola, currently with the Drew Barrymore Show, who’s doing it for 31 years were all in the audience.

COMEDY GIVES BACK LUNCHEON

Back in 2011, Zoe Friedman, Amber J. Lawson and Jodi Lieberman did a wonderful thing in creating Comedy Gives Back. It’s a non-profit that is basically the safety net for the comedy community by providing financial crisis relief, mental health and chemical dependency treatment. Many comics are struggling to make ends meet and the ladies held a luncheon at Gotham Comedy Club, which thanks to Chris Mazzilli always makes itself available for a good cause, to spread the word about their work.

**(L-R) ZOE FRIEDMAN, AMBER J. LAWSON, AND JODI LIEBERMAN**

I got there early and had a chance to shmooze with the ladies and partake of their complimentary pizza lunch, until we were joined by Alan Zweibel, the man who gave me my start in comedy while he was a main writer up at SNL in the earliest days of the show. To this day he says he can’t get the image of “creamcheese on the ankles of elderly women who wore their stockings rolled down like bagels” which was a little film I made starring my grandmother that I brought up to SNL. It’s a story that has been told in the little doc they made about me in 2020. Some of the past recipients of CGB’s generosiyy were there to sing their praises. I also got to re-connect with Joanna Briley who once gave me the honor of being the opening act for the 2nd night of the Martin Luther King Comedy Fest in Bed-Stuy Brooklyn, a true honor for me!

THE LOVE FOR GILBERT GOES ON

One of the other big events of the festival was the tribute to Gilbert Gottfried at the Hard Rock. It was called “Celebrating Gilbert” and the screen said “Still Screaming”. HIs wife Dara hosted the sold out event and there was no chance I would miss this since Gilbert and I were friends since probably the late 70’s or early 80’s. We had a long fun history and I really loved that guy! In the early days at Carolines, he literally made me laugh until I was in physical pain with his squid material and absurd references! He would proudly claim that no one had more squid material than he did, as he tore a napkin into strips like the tentacles of a squid!!!!

**CAROLINE HIRSCH ADDRESSING THE PANEL (L-R) FRANK SANTOPADRE, DARA GOTTFRIED, JUDY GOLD, SUSIE ESSMAN, AND RICHARD KIND**

**MY EARLIEST PHOTO WITH GILBERT CIRCA 80’S**

It was a spectacular event with people sharing stories of Gilbert and how unique he was, and also his reputation for being cheap. Truthfully the most exciting part for me was meeting his kids Lily and Max. I remember when they were born and now Max is 15 and Lily is 17. I knew Gilbert so long I was with him in the hospital when his appendix burst back in the early 90’s. I used to drive him home when he lived with his Mom. I once asked him if she “got him”, … if she knew he was “Gilbert”, … if she had any idea who he was, and he said “No!” To her he was just her son Gilbert!

After everyone on the panel shared their stories Frank Santopadre went out in the audience to speak to people like Chevy Chase, Robert Smigel, and other people who had known and worked with Gilbert. I was sitting in the very last row and I was dying to tell one of my many Gilbert stories. I didn’t know how I was going to get their attention though, and my heart was pounding.

I told myself if I didn’t do this I would never forgive myself and never get another chance, so I started nervously walking down the aisle towards the stage, and two women came up behind me encouraging me to share my story. I think they were from the festival. As I got close to the stage I got up the nerve to call out ” Frank, can I tell a story?” And Frank said “Jeff Gurian, ladies and gentlemen, and handed me the mic.” The story I told is below and Chevy Chase was sitting right in front of me as you can see in the video thanks to videographer Bob Sweeney, who filmed the whole event!

At the end of the event something very special happened. Bruce Hills who ran JFL Montreal for so many years came down with Nick Brazao who currently runs the programming at JFL to present Dara, Lily and Max with a huge sports jersey that says Gottfried 55! Not sure why it was so huge, but 55 is the year Gilbert was born!

**DARA, LILY, BRUCE HILLS, NICK BRAZAO, AND MAX GOTTFRIED AND THE JERSEY!!!**

And the proverbial icing on the cake was when it came out on Page Six in the NY Post! ( With my photo no less!!! LOL)

VINNY GUADAGNINO BRINGS IT AT THE STAND

I went to Vinny’s show truly not knowing what to expect. Many actors and people on TV think they can do stand-up comedy just because they’re used to being on camera. Most of the time it doesn’t work. Stand-up comedy is an art form all unto itself. It does not translate.

I was pleasantly surprised. Vinny is funny and I got a chance to tell him so after the show. He had no idea who I was so I don’t know if it meant anything to him, but I like to tell people when I think they’re doing something good. Creative people need to be re-affirmed! Also on the show was Jeffrey Asmus, and Jiaoying Summers who I also saw a couple of nights later at her own show at the Laurie Beechman Theater!

NEW FACES AT THE HARD ROCK

Most of the big industry shows were held at The Hard Rock. Lots of new and not so new fun talent. I walked in when my friend Soo Ra was on stage. Also Natalie Cuomo was a stand-out who’s soon to be married to Dan LaMorte, but the winner of the NY’s Funniest was Jamie Wolf who I picked as well. I just hope he doesn’t seriously injure his neck doing the airline crashing thing! ( Inside joke!)

J.B. IS DEFINITELY SMOOVE

Hadn’t seen JB Smoove in a while but he’s definitely one of my faves, so when I saw he was going to be at Town Hall I put it on my list of “Must-See” shows, and he definitely brought “the ruckus” as he’s prone to do! This was my final big show I covered at the festival!

I got there early with my assistant Jake Rothwell, and went right up to his dressing room. Backstage at Town Hall is huge and very difficult to navigate. To this day I always find it fascinating to see what goes on backstage. Maybe it’s because most people have no idea what it’s like. His dressing room was full of people and he was reviewing some notes when I came in. I had texted him to let him know I was coming because I don’t like to just show up with no notice.

He greeted me warmly and introduced me to his lovely wife, and then because he was busy prepping, I split to let him get ready, and told him I’d see him afterwards. He does such an entertaining show and the audience really loves him. I told him he brings joy to the stage, which is very special. Lots of people are funny but not everyone brings joy to the stage. We talked about his new game show on Amazon Prime called “Buy It Now” that just launched on Oct. 30th, where entrepreneurs get a chance to pitch their products, and the differences between that and Shark Tank.

We also reminisced about the loss of our mutual friend Richard Lewis, his cast-mate from Curb Your Enthusiasm, and JB’s great book ” The Book of Leon.” I was at the book launch with JB and Fifty Cent!

HAVING A BITE TO EAT **WITH JB SMOOVE** AT JFL MONTREAL 2010

It was so great to see the festival back again! Can’t wait for next year to do it again! That’s it for this column, but the next column is coming soon! If you liked it feel free to let me know at jeffrey@jeffreygurian.com

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone! I hope you all have lots to be thankful for!!! Follow me on Instagram at @jeffreygurian and I’ll see you in the clubs!!!

Tags: "Alan Zweibel", "J.B. Smoove", "JB Smoove", "Jersey Shore", "New York Comedy Club", "New York Comedy Festival", "Ricky Velez", "The Beacon Theater", "Town Hall", Chris Distefano, Gilbert Gottfried, Gotham Comedy Club, JFL, Jiaoying Summers, Judd Apatow, Just for Laughs Montreal, Jusy Gold, Ryan Reiss, Sam Morril, Susie Essman, The Stand Comedy Club, Vinny Guadagnino

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COMEDY MATTERS SUPER ISSUE CELEBRATES 25 YEARS, WITH NIKKI GLASER, KEVIN HART, CHRIS DISTEFANO, D.L. HUGHLEY, SETH HERZOG, KRYSTYNA HUTCHINSON, PAUL RUDD, ALEX MOFFAT AND SO MUCH MORE!!!

Posted by Jeffrey Gurian on October 3, 2024

COMEDY MATTERS 25th ANNIVERSARY

It may sound strange, but it wasn’t until I started writing about Seth Herzog’s 20th anniversary of his show Sweet, and acknowledging what an amazing achievment that was that I started wondering how long I’ve been doing Comedy Matters, and realized that I had started it in 1999, which made 2024 it’s 25 year anniversary of covering the comedy scene.

It’s been a few months since my last post and if you read on you’ll see why, so I’m going to briefly fill you in on what’s been going on in NY comedy thru the eyes of Comedy Matters.

TOM BRADY ROAST IS HUGE FOR NIKKI GLASER

Everyone totally crushed on the Tom Brady Roast. Kevin Hart was an amazing host and Roastmaster General Jeffrey Ross added to the hilarity with his never-fail killer jokes. That’s why he’s the Roastmaster General! Tony Hinchcliffe, Andrew Schulz, Tom Segura, Bert Kreischer, every single one of them killed. (Sorry if I left anyone out!!!)

But as a result of Nikki Glaser’s incredible performance roasting Tom at the very non-politically correct Roast on Netflix, she’ll be hosting the 82nd Golden Globes coming up on January 5th on CBS. I remember going to the premiere of the Nikki and Sara Live show on MTV back in 2013, when she had her own show with Sara Schaefer, and it’s so cool to see her reach superstardom. Nikki is a force. Her latest special on HBO, “Some Day You’ll Die” is up for an Emmy. She hosted and Exec. Produced F-Boy Island for three seasons which led to her hosting and Exec. Producing the spin-off “Lovers and Liars.” So major congrats to Nikki!

**(L-R) BERT KREISCHER AND TOM SEGURA TEAM UP ON THE BRADY ROAST**

**WITH SARA SCHAEFER AND NIKKI GLASER AT MTV BACK IN 2013**

GROSSINGERS DOC DUE FROM BUNGALOW ENTERTAINMENT AND ATLANTIC OVERSEAS PICTURES

The popularity of the Netflix hit The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel had led to a resurgence of interest in that era, the 1950’s and particularly about what was known as The Borscht Belt which were the incredible hotels in upstate New York like Grossingers, The Concord, The Nevele, The Raleigh and so many more.

Bobby Friedman the head of Bungalow Entertainment is producing a documentary on Grossingers, along with co-Exec.Producer Harris Salomon of Atlantic Overseas Pictures. It features owner Jenny Grossinger who paved the way for powerful women in the entertainment business. Grossingers was one of the best known hotels, that even had it’s own airstrip to fly in the big stars that performed there. I was interviewed for the doc because I was at Grossingers at two different points in my life, … as a kid singing solo in a famous Hebrew choir that sang at the hotels for the High Holidays, and again as an adult writing comedy for many of the big stars that performed there.

My interview was to be held at a comedy club which turned out to be, where else but Chris Mazzilli’s Gotham Comedy Club where so many amazing things take place. Judd Apatow was just there doing a special show about a week ago. The doc is being directed by award winning director Paula Eiselt who interviewed me, with the assistance of Bennett Elliot and Catherine Rierson from Bungalow Entertainment. Can’t wait for it to come out!

**WITH AWARD WINNING DIRECTOR PAULA EISELT AT GOTHAM COMEDY CLUB**

UCB IS BACK WITH ASSSSCAT BETTER THAN EVER

In a never-ending list of things lost to Covid, UCB was one of them. Fortunately it’s back in a killer new location on 14th Street. Amazingly huge space. I attended the grand opening on Sept. 13th, and was pleasantly surprised to see Sasheer Zamata, Chris Gethard, and Zach Cherry among the improvisers. The host that night was James Austin Johnson from SNL. Improv may not be as reliable in terms of laughter as stand-up, but it may be the hardest thing in the world to do and they totally have my respect!

**(L-R) Sasheer Zamata with a shaved head, James Austin Johnson in front and Zach Cherry in the rear with the glasses. Other names unfortunately are unknown to me! Send them in if you know!!!**

CELEB PHOTOG MARCUS RUSSELL PRICE PRODUCING SHOWS

Marcus Russell Price is at every major comedy event shooting photos at the request of whoever is headlining the event. And it’s because he’s that good! I will always be indebted to him for shooting the two photos that appear below, at the exact second that I walked through the door at Carnegie Hall to congratulate Nick Kroll on his sold-out show, only to find out that due to Covid, they blocked everyone but me from coming backstage to see Nick, … even his family!

**NICK KROLL FILMING ME AS I ENTERED HIS DRESSING ROOM AT CARNEGIE HALL WITH MIKE BERKOWITZ LAUGHING HYSTERICALLY!**

Nick thought it was so funny that he took out his phone and filmed it for Instagram. The only other person with him was uber-agent to the stars Mike Berkowitz of WME fame who was laughing hysterically at the fact that they didn’t let anyone in but me! When it comes to super agents you would be hard pressed to find a comedy superstar not repped by Mike. To name just a few, … Bill Burr, Hasan Minhaj, Nick Kroll, John Mulaney, Amy Schumer and John Oliver! To see Nick’s reaction when I walked into his dressing room click the link below!

So when I heard that Marcus was actually producing comedy shows at Lincoln Center there was no chance I was not going to attend. I was almost expecting him to perform but he just introduced the evening and each of the comedians. Both shows were great and sold out and I hope he decides to do more this coming year.

**(L-R) MARCUS RUSSELL-PRICE, JOEY DARDANO, JORDAN ROCK, ROSEBUD BAKER AND THAT SAME GUY!**

NEW YORK COMEDY CLUB TAKES OVER STAND UP NY LOCATION

Emilio Savone and Scott Lindner are killing the game. I think this makes five New York Comedy Club venues, and Emilio always makes sure that I get to attend every special event he does. They totally renovated the old Stand Up NY space on West 78th Street and had a grand opening. I particularly appreciated the huge green room they created downstairs where offices used to be. It’s always nice to have a cool place to hang before going up.

It was a star-studded line-up including two of my faves, Chris Distefano and Corinne Fisher who I absolutely love! Always so glad to see how well she’s doing. Her comedy partner in crime, Krystyna Hutchinson will appear in this column a bit further down. And I just got word as I’m writing this that Chrissy scored a Hulu special! Well deserved Chris!!!

**WITH CHRIS DISTEFANO WHO JUST GOT A HULU SPECIAL**

COMEDY TIDBITS

I’m involved in something that could be HUGE thanks to the two guys you see standing with me below. No more can be said, but if it happens it will involve many of my big-time comedy friends so when D.L. Hughley was at Levity Live in Nyack, I made sure to stop off and ask him in person if he would be kind enough to participate. He said I didn’t even have to ask and that of course he’d be involved! A true friend!!!

We reminisced about the time he took me out to dinner to make sure I ate!

I was at Sheba Mason’s show one night at Three Monkeys waiting to go on when I heard them announce a comedian to the stage and I thought maybe I heard wrong. I was pretty sure I heard them say Greg Giraldo Jr. What a nice surprise to find out it was Greg’s son. I’m sure he knew already, but I got to tell him what a great, talented guy his Dad was and afterwards sent him some photos of his Dad and I from back in the day!

**WITH GREG GIRALDO JR. A VERY FUNNY YOUNG GUY**

We lost a great actor and dear friend Tony LoBianco and at the funeral service at St. Patrick’s I ran into two other old friends, comedy legend Joe Piscopo and radio legend Frank Morano!

Wound up on one of Victoria Arnstein’s shows with Mae Planert and saw what her husband Mark Normand did to her! (LOL) Such a nice girl! Major congrats to the expecting parents! I keep telling him how great it is to be a Dad!

**WITH THE VERY FUNNY MAE PLANERT WHO IS “WITH CHILD” THANKS TO MARK NORMAND!**

Got on an AA flight to Minneapolis to be a Keynote Speaker to 500 doctors on Happiness and as I boarded the flight, the main flight attendant yelled out, ” Hey Jeffrey!” Turns out it was Soo Ra a very funny comedian who’s in my new TV pilot “The Raw Side of Comedy.” I knew she was funny but never knew she was also a flight attendant for the past 7 years! I made her take photos on the plane!!!

**WITH SOO RA THE COMEDIAN/FLIGHT ATTENDANT**

Zeuses Muses an entertainment company hired me to do a show with funny comic Anna Manis at The Red Room above New York Comedy Club’s 4th Street location. It’s like a speakeasy, and it was part of a national tour. Very fun show!

**ON STAGE AT THE RED ROOM WITH ANNA MANIS**

“A Walk In The Park” the Woody Allen-ish type film I co-starred in with writer/director Noel Leon was chosen as an official selection for the NY Shorts International Film Fest slated to be shown on Oct. 14th, at the Cinema Village Theater, and if I’m lucky I’ll even get to see the final version beforehand! It’s a really sweet film about an unlikely friendship!

xr:d:DAFxoXJb-KY:13,j:2726210195446358814,t:23101918

HOLISTIC COMEDY

Everyone’s heard the saying that laughter is the best medicine. Well because of my double career as a doctor (20 years on the Board of The Assoc. for Spirituality and Psychotherapy, 12 years on staff at NYU in Oral Medicine and Oro-Facial Pain, and 25 years as a Cosmetic Dentist) and an Amazon best-selling author with 8 books, three on Happiness, mindset and changing negative thinking to positive thinking, I’m getting asked to speak at holistic-type events bringing comedy into the mix.

In July I was the Keynote Speaker in Minneapolis at the Minneapolis Convention Center to about 500 doctors and the topic they gave me was ” Surviving A Career in Dentistry Using Positive Thinking and Humor”, and about a week ago I led a weekend workshop at the prestigious Omega Institute for Holistic Studies where Deepak Chopra speaks. Big honor! The topic they gave me was ” Heal Your Heart With Humor.” The middle photo below shows the line going out the door of people wanting to say hi and have me sign a book for them. I guess what I had to say resonated with them! (LOL) ( Humble brag!!!)

To help promote the event I went on WABC radio with my buddy Frank Morano on his hit show “The Other Side of Midnight”, i-Heart Radio with the amazing Xen Sams on her hit show “A Moment of Xen”, and had the honor of being the very first guest on Krystyna Hutchinson’s new podcast “The Voices In Our Heads” in her amazing new studio, and produced by my old pal Mike Coscarelli who’s producing a bunch of podcasts now. Krystyna of course is still doing “Guys We F**ked” with her comedy partner Corinne Fisher!

Even better Krystyna asked me to release her TMJ cause she’s been getting jaw pain from grinding her teeth from stress, and that just happened to be my specialty at NYU.

Got to exchange “best-selling” books with Mick Jagger’s girlfriend Melanie Hamrick and tell her my Mick Jagger story!

SWEET CELEBRATES 20 YEARS

I swear, … this is the last item. I can’t write anymore! Sweet is almost old enough to vote! Seth Herzog has achieved the impossible and kept a comedy show running for two decades. In next month’s column I will do a deep dive into the two shows he did at Chelsea Music Hall with owner Michael Ginsberg, but suffice it to say that both shows were amazing. I’m excited to say I’ll be doing Seth’s Halloween show on Oct. 22nd also at Chelsea Music Hall telling the scary story of my heart attack!

One show was on a Sunday night and the other was on the following Tuesday night. Huge crowds, and interviews were done for an upcoming documentary. Got to re-connect with Michael Ian Black, Todd Barry, who always makes me laugh hard with his sarcastic point of view, Jeaneane Garofalo who opened her set by giving away three pair of pants from a Target bag, and Richard Kind who improvised a song about people in the audience with Seth and Michael Ian Black. Michael and I co-wrote the very first interactive film for Sony back in 1992 called “I’m Your Man.”

In the Tuesday show it was Alex Moffat, Mark Normand, Paul Rudd, Justin Theroux, Richard Kind and more and I got to re-connect with the great Dave Hill who told me he loved my performance in Joe DeRosa’s video “Mouth On My Money”! Dave’s new one man show at the Soho Playhouse is called “Dave Hill-Caveman In A Spaceship”! Gotta see it real soon!!! Those photos in the next column coming very soon!!!

**JANEANE GAROFOLO AND HER BAG OF PANTS**

IF YOU’RE NOT TOO TIRED AFTER READING THIS WHOLE BLOG POST YOU CAN FOLLOW JEFFREY ON INSTAGRAM AT @JEFFREYGURIAN AND ON TICKTOK AT @JEFFREYLGURIAN SEE YOU SOON!!!

Tags: 77WABC, Alex Moffat, Andrew Schulz, Anna Manis, Bert Kreischer, Bill Burr, Bungalow Entertainment, Chris Distefano, Comedy Matters, Corinne Fisher, D.L. Hughley, Emilio Savone, Frank Morano, Jeffrey Gurian, Joe DeRosa, Joe Piscopo, Kevin Hart, Krystyna Hutchinson, Mae Planert, Mark Normand, Melanie Hamrick, Mick Jagger, Mike Berkowitz, New York Comedy Club, Nick Kroll, Nikki Glaser, Noel Leon, Omega Institute for Holistic Studies, Paul Rudd, Paula Eiselt, Robert Friedman, Sasgeer Zamata, Seth Herzog, Soo Ra, Tom Brady, Tom Segura, UCB, WABC, WME, Woody Allen, Zach Cherry, Zeuses Muses

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COMEDY MATTERS ROUNDUP WITH BILLY CRYSTAL, JIM GAFFIGAN, BUPKIS, 92NY, HAMPTONS COMEDY, CITY WINERY, GRISLY PEAR AND LOTS MORE!!!

Posted by Jeffrey Gurian on June 4, 2023

**BILLY CRYSTAL POINTING TO HIS TEETH AND YOU KNOW WHY!!!**

JIM GAFFIGAN’S DREAM WAS TO PLAY SMEE

The 92NY has been absolutely killing it with comedy related events. And luckily for me I get to cover them all! So when I heard that Jim Gaffigan would be interviewed by MTV’s Josh Horowitz, about his co-starring role as Smee, in the new Peter Pan and Wendy movie, I knew I had to attend.

Jim and I go back to his very earliest days in comedy in NY, and I’ve seen him go from one incredibly successful project to the next. I was at the premiere of the sit-com he did with Christine Baranski called “Welcome To New York.” He was also one of the very special interviews I did back in 2008 for my book “Make ‘Em Laugh” on the history of The Comic Strip.

So after the event at the 92Y I went backstage to congratulate Jim and catch up! I got to show him the cover story about me in Sutton Place Magazine where the first few words say, ” Growing up my idol was Peter Pan”, and Jim told me that growing up he always wanted to be Smee! (I got it on video!) Most kids can’t wait to grow up but I always wanted to stay a kid. My inner child is my best friend!

Jim told me this great story of how he got the part. Years earlier he was in an indie film and one of the producers was James Johnson. Somehow they got to talking about Peter Pan and Jim told James he would make a great Smee! Years later James Johnson was one of the producers on this new Peter Pan film and he remembered what Jim said! #Magic

Jim is playing Smee to Jude Law’s Captain Hook. Smee is Captain Hook’s right hand man, and I told Jim it would be more appropriate if he was his left hand man, since it was his left hand that Hook lost to the crocodile!

Jim was about to set off on a European tour where he was hitting several countries and major cities like Helsinki, Amsterdam, Berlin and Paris, all within about a week and a half, and mostly in countries where he blends right in!!! (LOL)

COMEDY SPOTLIGHT WITH CHRIS MILLHOUSE

I dropped by City Winery which is also killing it with their comedy line-up to see Chris Millhouse’s Comedy Spotlight show with Regina DeCicco hosting and a heavy duty line-up with Mark Normand, Joe List, and Charles McBee in a guaranteed hit show.

Joe List is in the process of editing his new special which will be coming out on You Tube. It’s called Enough for Everyone and he shot it at The Village Underground this past February. Matt Wayne opened for him and you can expect to see it this summer, probably sometime in August!

Regina DeCicco is so used to warming up the audience for The View which is such a huge thing that when I asked her what she had going on she had to think about it for a minute! She’s been doing it since the Fall of 2018, which is nothing like the fall of the Roman Empire, but it just shows you that people get used to everything! No matter how big it is!!!

Charles McBee was waiting for the WGA strike to settle so he can get back to being the head writer and on-air personality for Comedy Central’s Hell of a Week with Charlamagne tha God!

Mark Normand is being repped by UTA, and he and Joe List have been doing their podcast Tuesday with Stories for 10 years now, … and I still haven’t been on! Mostly because they don’t have guests, … but that’s no excuse!!! Mark’s new special Soup to Nuts will be dropping on Netflix on July 25th! Be there!!!

COMEDY AT THE EXPO WAS A BIG HIT

So I’m at this new food market in Chelsea with the weird name of Olly Olly, and this young guy comes over, who turns out to be the manager, and says ” Are you Jeffrey Gurian?” I admit to it and HE admits to being a big fan of what we did on the Black Phillip Show when I was Patrice O’Neal’s co-host.

As the result of that meeting, I got to bring an awesome comedy show to their event space which they refer to as The Expo. It was Aaron Berg, Raanan Hershberg, Drew Dunn, who I met last year up at JFL in Montreal and told him that some day we would be doing something cool together, Andre Kim, and Jeff Arcuri who only has 270,000 followers on Instagram! Poor guy!

(**L-R) ANDRE KIM, JEFF ARCURI, YOURS TRULY, RAANAN HERSHBERG, AND DREW DUNN- PHOTO COURTESY OF JEFF SMITH**

We had over 100 people in the audience and it was a big success! So much so that we might even do it again.

And to promote the show I went up to Sirius XM studios to be on with Ron and Gail Bennington and joined Bobby Kelly who was also a guest that day, and then I got to do WABC radio with Frank Morano who has the highest rated overnight show on A.M. radio called The Other Side of Midnight with Frank Morano. Frank is one of the best and most knowledgable hosts on the air and it’s always so fun to be on with him. Plus they have an amazing candy room and he lets me take as much as I want!

**BOBBY KELLY, GAIL BENNINGTON AND RON BENNINGTON**

What made it even more special was the surprise guest spot from my pal Derek Gaines one of the funniest, and most unpredictable on stage guys in the game! I love seeing Derek in Pete Davidson’s new show Bupkis on Peacock with Joe Pesci playing Pete’s grandfather, and Edie Falco playing his Mom! And Dave Sirus is writing on the show!

ANTHONY DEVITO’S DAD WAS DEFINITELY NOT DANNY DEVITO

About ten years ago Jordan Rock and I were chosen by Richie Tienken, owner and founder of The Comic Strip, to be the first and only hosts for “late night” where new comics get a chance to perform after the last show. In the early days of the club that could have been 2 or 3 A.M. When we did it it started at 11.

Not just any new comics but new comics who had to pass an audition process and showed major promise.

Anthony Devito was one of those young comics along with comics like Sam Morril, Joe Machi, and Subhah Agarwal, all of whom have gone on to do great things. So I was so glad to be able to see Anthony Devito perform his one man show “Danny Devito Isn’t My Dad” at the Soho Playhouse after debuting it at the 2022 Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland.

The show must be a real catharsis for Anthony because he lost his Dad as an infant of only 7 weeks old and was raised by his Mom who worked very hard to give him the best childhood she could, while keeping the secret of who his Dad really was.

When he reached 18 his Mom finally told him the truth about his Dad. He found out that his Dad had been a hit man for a major crime family and had killed many people in the course of his career. He was even portrayed as one of the main characters in the movie Goodfellas.

Understandably this would be a lot to handle for anyone but because Anthony was blessed with a good sense of humor he was able to turn this into a poignant and funny one man show. I give him a lot of credit for doing so, because it’s a very courageous thing to do to make yourself so vulnerable on stage. Especially when you’re Italian! (LOL) After the show we got to reminisce about the old days at The Strip!

**WITH ANTHONY DEVITO AT THE SOHO PLAYHOUSE**

STICKS AND STONES WILL MAKE YOU LAUGH

Kudos to producer/filmmaker and now comedy club owner Abby Russell who’s opening a new comedy club in Southhampton later this month on June 30th. It’s called Sticks and Stones and it’s located in the Southampton Cultural Center. Abby will be doing this with comedy club producer Lynn Kaplan, a veteran comedy and TV executive, who worked with both Louis C.K. and Conan O’Brien.

Opening weekend will feature national headliner Carmen Lynch and my buddy Jordan Rock who can also be seen in Pete Davidson’s new show “Bupkis.” And as I’m writing this I just got the news that I will also be on both shows with headliner Jordan Rock on Saturday July 1st.

Abby and I go back more than 20 years to when she produced the original Hamptons Comedy Festival back in 2000 and brought me in as a co-producer. It was the fund-raising arm for Comedy Fights Cancer and it was a big success.

I remember being interviewed by none other than Countess LuAnn De Lesseps of RHONY fame who in those days, pre-RHONY, was doing interviews for a local TV network. I think it was for Plum TV!

In more recent years Abby and I worked together again when she produced the documentary film on the legendary comedy club The Comic Strip. At the time I was working on the book, and I was also a producer on the film. It was called “Eat, Drink and Laugh” and we debuted it at the Just for Laughs Festival in Montreal. I went up with owner/founder Richie Tienken and at the premiere were some of the comics who came out of The Strip and went on to become big stars like George Wallace, Judy Gold, Paul Provenza and Robert Wuhl!

**(L-R) BRENT STERLING-NEMETZ, ABBY RUSSELL, JUDY GOLD, PAUL PROVENZA, RICHIE TIENKEN, YOURS TRULY, AND IN THE BACK GEORGE WALLACE AND ROBERT WUHL.**

There hasn’t been a comedy club in The Hamptons since the 80’s when famed comedy manager Rick Messina was then running the East End Comedy Club. And Judd Apatow’s Mom Tami actually worked as a hostess at the club. Judd was only 14 and got to hang out there and meet a lot of the comedians he loved.

Abby moved back from LA to raise her daughter Aria on the East coast, and to be near her family, and now lives in the Hamptons full time.

It was actually Aria who chose the name Sticks and Stones and it was seconded by Eddie Brill who will be performing at the club one weekend as well. The club will present national headliners year round but will also be producing comedy, special events, and wellness programming as well. I’ve been offered to participate and perform and truthfully I can not wait to do so!!!

CHANEL OMARI BRINGS LAUGHS FOR CITY HARVEST

Kenny Warren and Gabe Dorado, the powers behind The Grisly Pear both downtown and the new space in midtown had worked really hard to make The Grisly Pear the success that it is, which is why I was pretty surprised to learn that they’re no longer involved. I had performed in the downtown club many times which they made very comic-friendly by covering the walls with posters of each comic that performed there.

I hadn’t had the opportunity to perform in this new club on West 54th Street until comic/producer/host of the popular “Chanel In The City” podcast on iHeart Radio, (which is about the only podcast I have not been on yet! LOL) and former reality TV star Chanel Omari invited me to perform in a fundraiser for City Harvest, a charity that provides food for the poor and homeless.

Chanel opened the show, and arranged for a great line-up including my pal Josh Adam Meyers, the creator of Goddam Comedy Jam, Natalie Cuomo who I was so glad to finally get to meet in person, Che Durena, who I had been hearing so much about, Shaun Murphy and Jeff Quintana.

Josh Adam Meyers had some exciting news to share. He’ll be touring with musical superstar Jelly Roll, hosting his shows in 44 arenas across the country from July 28th to Oct. 15th. It came about when Jelly Roll saw him performing at Skank Fest in Las Vegas and said he never saw anyone combining music and comedy the way Josh does. They were on stage performing together, and I’m pretty sure he told me that Shane Gillis and Big Jay Oakerson were performing as well. A classic example of being in the right place at the right time.

**INTERVIEWING JOSH ADAM MEYERS AT THE LAS VEGAS COMEDY FESTIVAL**

I was glad to finally meet Natalie Cuomo, not only because she’s funny, but because she’s engaged to my buddy Dan Lamorte and between them they have enough tattoos to open an art museum and give tours of their bodies! (LOL) They often work the road together! And they both got signed to APA this very week.

It was a packed room, everybody killed and I wound up going up right after Chanel ably warmed up the crowd. She’s there on the regular and I’m looking forward to coming back!

BILLY CRYSTAL IS MR. EVERY NIGHT

My history with Billy Crystal goes back to the 80’s when the legendary comedy manager Jack Rollins, who managed Woody Allen and produced all his films, and was managing Robin Williams and Billy at the time brought me down to his office to meet Billy who he thought should play me in a sit-com about a dentist who wanted to be in show biz.

Billy was too busy at the time so I suggested a new comic I had seen named Paul Reiser who I thought would be perfect. I called Paul and asked his permission and he said “Sure” but almost immediately he got a huge role in what I recall to be the film “Diner.”

Billy was the first comic to hit the stage on June 1, 1976 when The Comic Strip opened and he’s in my book “Make ‘Em Laugh”. The photo above where he’s pointing to his teeth is because he remembered how we met!

When The Friars dedicated the ground floor bar to Billy as The Billy Crystal Bar I was there and took this photo of Billy, with Catch a Rising Star owner Rick Newman and Richard Belzer both of whom left us in recent months, only one day apart!!!

(**L-R) RICK NEWMAN, BILLY CRYSTAL, AND RICHARD BELZER AT THE FRIARS CLUB**

I never got to see Mr. Saturday Night, Billy’s Broadway masterpiece so when the 92NY notified me of an event where it was being shown in it’s entirety as a musical, where Billy was being interviewed by Bette Midler, even though I HATE musicals I knew I had to attend.

I hate musicals because it always seemed weird to me that right in the middle of some piece of business happening in the story suddenly everybody starts singing and they all know the words. It take me out of it.

But in this case Billy was so good as was his cast of characters that I totally enjoyed it. And in the production he referenced so many people I knew, as well as during the interview with Bette Midler.

He talked about Robin Williams being like his brother, especially after they did HBO’s Comic Relief together in 1986, ( I was there!), and he said they both had problems sleeping and would often call each other at 2 A.M. for long talks. He also said that when he did “Scat” which is a jazz thing you do with your voice, it was an homage to Sid Caesar who had a great talent for making believe he spoke many languages.

He said that over the 8 years of doing Comic Relief they raised over 72 million dollars for the homeless. We could sure use another Comic Relief right now!

Billy is also a master impressionist and did impressions of Mohammed Ali, Howard Cosell. Robert Deniro and Joe Pesci!

And he said that in the classic scene in “When Harry Met Sally” , when Rob Reiner’s mother Estelle uttered the classic line ” I’ll have what she’s having” the room exploded with laughter and he and Rob wound up holding hands! Funny what people remember!

I know for me I will never forget this!

**TAKEN IN BILLY’S OFFICE IN BEVERLY HILLS**

And now it’s time for me to go because if this column gets any longer it will no longer be just a column but a book! (LOL) Hope to see you in the clubs! Please feel free to leave comments and to contact me at jeffrey@jeffreygurian.com

Tags: "Comedy Matters TV", Billy Crystal, Comedy Matters, Jeffrey Gurian

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COMEDY MATTERS ROUNDUP WITH RICHARD LEWIS, AMY POEHLER, CITY WINERY, HAMPTONS COMEDY FEST AND LOTS MORE!!!

Posted by Jeffrey Gurian on May 5, 2023

**WITH MY PAL RICHARD LEWIS-CIRCA 2008**

RICHARD LEWIS IS BELOVED

My history with Richard Lewis goes back to the early 90’s if not the 80’s, but my first real memory of us together was in 1995 at the NY premiere of the film Drunks in which he was the star. Richard had a reputation of never using anyone else to write for him, but I was determined to at least give it a shot.

I felt like i knew him so well, and that he was me in a different body. I related to every story he told about his family. His persona was very comfortable to me. His nervousness, his self-deprecation, his Jewish background. It was me in a different body. At least that’s how I felt.

Anyway, I was invited to the premiere and I wrote up a bunch of jokes, proposing a tour called “Born To Be Nervous”, because if I ever got a tattoo, that’s what it would say. Some guys get “Born To Be Wild”! I get “Born To Be Nervous.”

I got to the theatre early hoping to see Richard to give him the material which I had typed up,and put into a folder. Probably after having made a carbon copy! ( Some of you probably don’t even know what that is! (LOL)

All I remember is getting on the wrong line, which is perfect for me, in exact alignment with my ADHD, and what usually happens, … and I recall being told that I just missed Richard and that he was already in the theatre. I decided to go to the rest room, ,and as I was going down the stairs, who was coming up the stairs but Richard Lewis, which is also the kind of thing that happens to me.

He looks at me surprised and says, ” What are you doing here?” And I said, “Picking up some chop meat for my mother” which was my usual answer if I was somewhere like on the beach and some “nudnik” greeted me with, ” What are YOU doing here?” as if I was not allowed to go to the beach like everyone else!

I blurted out that I was here to see the film and support him and that I brought him these jokes that I wanted him to read. Inside was a note asking him to let me know his thoughts. He took the envelope and went into the theatre.

I don’t think I saw him when it was over and before I left but that very night, this message was on my answering machine, and I have treasured it ever since. Hope you can hear it! It’s 28 years old but listen for the word “Hilarious”!

When I wrote my first Happiness book called “Healing Your Heart, By Changing Your Mind- A Spiritual and Humorous Approach To Achieving Happiness” in my other persona, I asked Richard for a blurb and this is what he wrote for the cover:

“Dr. Gurian is a master of so many disciplines , including being a brilliant humorist, the pressure probably caused his own heart attack. Lucky for us, his genius helps us minimize our risk and live healthier after an episode. He’s on my speed dial along with God.”

And when I produced a black tie event in honor of Susie Essman for the Gold Coast International Film Festival Richard and I met up at The Friars Club, when it was still prestigious to be a member of the Friars Club, and we shot a little tribute to Susie, … where else but in the Men’s Room! The Friars had just done a big article on me in The Epistle which is what we were reading!

We also shot a bunch of fun videos at The Friars and whenever Richard was coming to town he’d let me know and we’d hang out and have lunch, which was a good thing to do when The Friars was The Friars!

So when I heard the news that he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease I was very upset. I had spoken to him fairly recently and he told me he was shooting Season 12 of Curb, and was very excited about it. I had planned to call him today when just as I was about to, he sent me the little video he posted on Twitter.

pic.twitter.com/ngqm6TmC3x

— Richard Lewis (@TheRichardLewis) April 24, 2023

RICHARD TELLING HIS TRUTH

I had no idea about the four surgeries, or that he made the choice to retire and then this happened. Life is very crazy, but Richard Lewis is amazing, a true tower of strength, and one of the funniest guys of all time, and I know he’ll be okay. He’s truly beloved. Sending prayers for his continued good health, and much gratitude for his longtime friendship.

AMY POEHLER’S SWEDISH DEATH CLEANING SERIES

One of the advantages of what I do is getting invited to cool things! So when I got invited to the screening of Amy Poehler’s new show on Peacock, sponsored by The Hollywood Reporter, I made sure to RSVP immediately. It was at the Crosby Hotel in Soho.

Amy’s goal was to create an unscripted series with no fighting. Something positive and not catering to man’s basest instincts like most reality shows. Most reality shows seek drama and allow people to ruin their lives on screen. Most participants don’t go unscathed! I have personal experience which I won’t go into here.

She, under her Paper Kite Productions along with Scout Productions, the creators of “Queer Eye”, and her producing partner Kate Arend created a show called “The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning”. I was afraid it was going to be very sad, but it was really quite uplifting in a way. The concept is based on the fact that we’re all going to die, a very unpleasant fact. It seems that life is a death sentence.

But when we make our transition someone has to go through all the stuff we’ve collected, and some of us border on being hoarders. My apartment is packed with things from decades, some of which I have not looked at in just as long.

In the episode we viewed an artist from Kansas City named Amy Moreno was the subject. She was an openly gay, proud, Chicano artist who had lost her longtime partner to Covid. Her rooms were just completely covered in piles of papers, books, art supplies, and art work to the point where the furniture underneath them was not even visible.

Hence the need for the Swedish Death Cleaners, three caring, very diverse people who go through the whole entire home, and figure out what needs to be kept, what can be donated to a new home, and what can be disgarded.

Looking through a lifetime of memories was at times tearful and at other times joyous. At the end her home was absolutely beautiful like an art museum, and the art she donated led to her receiving an award from the Mayor of her town at a surprise event in her honor arranged by the Swedish Death Cleaners.

After the showing there was a Q&A, and then they had a lovely reception with lots of food and drinks and bags of Swedish Fish. Amy didn’t stay for the reception and kind of snuck out, but at least I had the chance to congratulate her before she left, and she was so surprised to see me! She and I go back a ways and her photo was one of the ones they used in my recent cover story in Sutton Place Magazine.

**WITH AMY IN THE PHOTO FROM THE MAGAZINE**

SPORTS OR SCHWARTZ???

When I got the call from producer Jeremy Moses asking me to be a guest on Game Breakers I asked him what kind of a show it was. When he told me it was a sports/comedy show I had to laugh because there’s probably no one who knows less about sports than me! I know about Schwartz! Wide World of Schwartz is my specialty!

Ron Bennington from Sirius XM used to kid me about it all the time and they would sign me up for these in office game lotteries and tell me who to vote for. I didn’t have a clue. But Jeremy assured me I would not have to know much about sports, … they just wanted to talk to me.

I love a challenge, so I grabbed my Gurian Angels jacket that Nick Kroll and John Mulaney had made for me to open their hit Broadway show “Oh, Hello”, and I went as the captain of the Gurian Angels, one of the top teams in the sport of Biggling, the most politically correct sport of all time.

There’s two opposing teams in Biggling. One guy stands up at the plate holding a ball and the other guy throws a bat at him. The first guy swings the ball and tries to hit the bat. If he does he walks very slowly around 6 bases. No one wins or loses. Very politically correct.

Anyway I had a blast with the two hosts, comedians Eitan Levine and Drexton Clemons. We laughed for the whole time, and they even said they wanted me back. I’ll go if they do!

**(L-R-WITH DREXTON CLEMONS AND EITAN LEVINE**

RUGELACH AND REVELRY

Not many people could figure out how to combine the two but Periel Aschenbrand did! In conjunction with Old Jewish Men from Instagram fame, she does a monthly brunch comedy show at Stand Up New York, another one of my favorite places, that’s catered by Zabar’s. The Rugelach were exquisite, as was the line-up.

Periel was the host. She has an Israeli husband and therefore according to her, a lifetime membership in the IDF! (LOL) She had a great line-up with Rich Aronovich, Chanel Ali, who claimed to be Jewish as the comedy Drake, and went to Israel on birthright, Kosha Dillz, who’s a comedy rapper, Dan Naturman who’s always so funny and Modi who closed the show with a bang. Modi has the kind of stage presence you don’t see much anymore. He works with an energy and a flare. and commands the stage in a way that is reminiscent of the great Mal Z. Lawrence, who I knew well, and which I say to be taken as the greatest compliment.

Rich Aronovich has created a character on Instagram whose dancing can have me mesmerized and laughing for an hour trying to figure out how he has the nerve to do what he does. If I ever feel down I look up his profile. He will be in my new show The Raw Side of Comedy!

CITY WINERY KILLING IT WITH COMEDY

Another great show at City Winery from Unhinged Comedy hosted by Jahan Djo, who wondered why there’s no Jewish superheroes, and featuring Matt Ruby who has a new special on You Tube called “Substance’ made up of 4 sets, … three where he was under the influence of different things, and one set sober, Raanan Hershberg, who describes himself as looking like an Israeli Jonah Hill, and talking about how hot people should not be spokespeople for body positivity, ( a great concept!), the always funny Jared Freid, Adrienne Iapalucci who just came off opening for Louis CK at MSG, and Jeff Arcuri who had one of the most unusual things happen ever on stage.

He was about to tell jokes about his ex-girlfriend when someone in the crowd yelled out that they knew her. And they actually did, and knew the details of their break-up! . He was so astonished he could hardly speak for a moment, which led him to say, ” I’ve never been heckled by my past before” which got a HUGE laugh.

HAMPTONS COMEDY FEST IN SAG HARBOR

I enjoy The Hamptons as much as anyone else but it’s a long drive to go back and forth in one night. However when I saw the line-up that comic/producer Paul Anthony put together I knew I had to attend. People have no idea how much work it takes to produce a show, so kudos to Paul for the sold-out show I attended.

I could easily do a paragraph about each comic but this column tends to get so long that I have to be cognisant of that. Paul is best known for producing the LI Comedy Fest for 17 years, the Berkshire Comedy Fest for 5 years, and the 50+ tour with all comics over the age of 50! It’s mostly clean family type comedy with a mature appreciate audience.

It was held at Bay Street Theatre in Sag Harbor and I got out there early enough to enjoy the scenery. There will be two more shows to the festival, one in September and one in October wrapping around the high season as Paul explained.

David Weiss a comedian who’s also a reporter from 1010WINS radio opened the show. I think I knew David from when I used to be a judge at the NY’s Funniest Reporter Shows at The Comic Strip produced by Ryan McCormick and Mark Goldman of Goldman/McCormick PR.

He was followed by Rich Walker, who jokingly claims to have walked away from the chance to do a sit-com called “Everybody Loves Richie”, Kendra Cunningham who has a special called “Meatball Therapy”, and Bryan McKenna who’s been touring with Jim Breuer for the last 7 years. Jim called Governor’s looking for an opener and Bryan was the only one available. Talk about good luck and being in the right place at the right time! Jim produced his first album and he’s doing another one from Westside Comedy Club in October.

Closing the show was my buddy Chris Roach who was a co-star on Kevin James’ show “Kevin Can Wait”and who travels with Kevin and will be opening for him on May 20th in Westhampton. I guess I’ll have to drive out there again! (LOL)

(L-r) **Paul Anthony, Rich Walker, Kendra Cunningham, Bryan McKenna, David Weiss, Chris Roach**

ERIC NEUMANN SELLS OUT GRAMERCY

It’s always so gratifying to me to see a comic I know since they started out doing so well that they have so many fans they can sell out a venue. I know Eric from his very early days at The Comic Strip where he often did shows with his friend and partner at the time Marc Gerber.

Now he’s handled by Emilio Savone who owns the New York Comedy Club chain and who also started out many years ago working at The Comic Strip. That’s how far we go back so when I heard that Eric was at the Gramercy I knew I had to show up.

I sat right behind Eric’s Mom who he kept referring to throughout his whole time on stage. And she laughed as much if not more than everyone else! She always told him not to do too much crowd work but he didn’t listen, and did it anyway referencing her the entire time.

Dan Altano hosted the show, followed by Marc Gerber, and Jen Gittess who “admitted” to being in a relationship with Eric. We all got to hang out backstage afterwards at the party, and they seem really happy together. It was great meeting Marc’s wife and finding out they have a child. Life can not be about comedy alone, or else you will feel very unfulfilled!!!

AND WITH THAT I SIMPLY MUST END THIS COLUMN! (LOL) I ACTUALLY HAVE MORE TO ADD BUT IT WILL HAVE TO WAIT! JUST WANTED TO LET YOU ALL KNOW THAT MY SHOW ON MAY 10TH AT THE EXPO IN THE NEW OLLY OLLY MARKET WAS A BIG SUCCESS! WITH AARON BERG, DREW DUNN, ANDRE KIM, RAANAN HERSHBERG, AND JEFF ARCURI! WITH A SPECIAL SURPRISE GUEST SPOT FROM THE AMAZING DEREK GAINES!!! HOPE TO SEE YOU AT THE NEXT ONE!!!

SPECIAL THANKS TO CELEB PHOTOG JEFF SMITH FOR THE GREAT PHOTOS AS USUAL!

**(L-R) ANDRE KIM, JEFF ARCURI, ME, RAANAN HERSHBERG, DREW DUNN**

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The King of Staten Island Rocks

Posted by Jeffrey Gurian on June 17, 2020

**PETE DAVIDSON/SCOTT CARLIN WITH HIS BOYS MOISES ARIAS, RICKY VELEZ AND LOU WILSON ON STATEN ISLAND**

People who know me know I don’t do “review” reviews. I write about my experience seeing a show, or a film or any type of creative performance. I write about how it made me feel, and what the characters did. And if I don’t like it I don’t write about it at all.

**WITH PETE DAVIDSON THE STAR OF KING OF STATEN ISLAND**

Fortunately that’s not the case with The King of Staten Island because it would have been very difficult for me to ignore this project. It’s literally packed with comedian friends and people I know for a really long time.

Kudos first of all to director Judd Apatow, for bringing this amazing cast together, and creating cinematic magic. He produced, directed and co-wrote the script with Pete, and former SNL writer Dave Sirus who all did an amazing job telling this poignant story. When I spoke to Dave he said the experience working with Judd was surreal, and opening day was “a very weird day”, … in a good way!

**WITH THE KING OF HOLLYWOOD COMEDY JUDD APATOW**

Just to name the comedy people first, it’s Pete Davidson, Bill Burr, Ricky Velez, Lynn Koplitz, Derek Gaines, Keith Robinson, Pamela Adlon, Rich Vos and Bonnie Macfarlane, Liza Treyger, Mike Vecchione, Carly Aquilino, and Jessica Kirson.

WITH BILL BURR

WITH RICKY VELEZ

I’m particularly happy for Pete Davidson, because I think he had a lot riding on this film personally. So many people including me were waiting excitedly for it to come out, and it would have been devastating if it had not turned out as well as it did.

Pete gets so much press about so many different things, from all different angles, but he should be very proud of this project, which is loosely based on his own life.

And Judd must have been so proud that his daughter Maude was so great in the film playing Pete’s sister, who loves Pete/Scott in spite of himself.
I called Dave to congratulate him and he said it was a really crazy, “weird” day for him. I can only imagine.

I don’t think I’ve ever seen a film where I had a connection to so many people and even to a location in the film. I can’t do any spoilers so I’m going to keep this article limited mostly to the talent and the parts they played.

Pete, who stars in the film as Scott Carlin, and co-wrote it with Judd and Dave, plays a 24 year old Staten Island stoner who doesn’t have much direction, thanks to the confusion caused by his severe A.D.D.

He does have a dream though and that is to someday open a tattoo restaurant, which would be the first of it’s kind. Until that either happened or didn’t happen, he’d be just as comfortable hanging out in his basement with a few friends getting stoned.

He’s torn up about the death of his fireman Dad when he was only 7, but isn’t really in touch with that as the cause of his inner turmoil and emotional pain.

I happen to know Pete since he was about 17. He used to do my late night show at The Comic Strip. He’d come in late at night with Jordan Rock and was really shy and really funny. I had a feeling he was gonna do big things, but nobody could guess at the time where he would go, and the heights he would reach.

**PETE DAVIDSON WITH JORDAN ROCK BACK IN 2011**

I shared the excitement with him when Nick Cannon took him under his wing and brought him out on the road, and Pete used to tell me how amazing it was being with Nick and Mariah.

And then some years later we shot some fun video interviews up in Montreal, when he was asked to perform at the Just for Laughs Festival two years in a row. I remember how excited he was about being up there.

Then one night at Gotham Comedy Club, where he performed pretty often, he introduced me to his girlfriend at the time, super funny comedian Carly Aquilino, and told her she could tell me anything because I was someone who could be trusted. That was very cool.

Carly also has a part in the movie as Tara, and I almost didn’t recognize her with her super blonde hair which has been many other colors including pink!

**WITH CARLY AQUILINO OUTSIDE OF A COMEDY CLUB IN NYC**

The last time I saw Pete was with Bill Burr when he and Bill produced Paul Virzi’s special and I drove up to watch the taping and hang out backstage with those guys.

Bill Burr, who is so great in this part, plays a fireman named Ray with a big caterpiller moustache, who winds up dating Pete’s Mom Margie, in the film played by my old friend, the incredibly talented Marisa Tomei.

**WITH ACADEMY AWARD WINNER MARISA TOMEI**

In 1995 I was working with the Audrey Hepburn Foundation and went to the first year of the Aspen Comedy Festival representing the foundation, whose goal was to help poor children all over the world. I knew Marisa from the Naked Angels theatre troupe, as she was one of the founding members, and I used to go every week as one of the writers whose work they’d read.

When I got back from Aspen the Hepburn foundation had a big event at Planet Hollywood and I asked Marisa to come and make a special appearance which she did as a favor. She had already won the Oscar for her performance in My Cousin Vinny, so it was a really big thing. And Bill Burr gets to kiss her in this film! #sojealous

**BILL BURR WITH HIS BIG MOUSTACHE AND MARISA TOMEI**

So many people had fun parts. Ricky Velez who’s one of Pete’s best friends in real life plays a best friend in the film as well, and is absolutely superb. He even gets to wear his favorite clothes, which is usually just jeans and a hoodie. He has a very big and important part in terms of what happens to him and to Pete/Scott during the film.

**RICKY VELEZ JUST CHILLIN’ ON STATEN ISLAND**

Derek Gaines from The Last O.G. plays a waiter in the Staten Island restaurant where Pete gets a job, and Derek is also a close friend and an old roommate of Pete’s. They actually lived together in real life and when I called him right after I saw the film to congratulate him he told me he was “so glad to work with a cast that knew how to play the line of comedy and drama together. Pete and Judd are a power collaboration that I’m so glad to be a part of.”

He went on to say ” Pete is my friend, we sorta grew up together in comedy. He was my roommate for Christ’s sake … I’m glad we stayed cool and he called me to do the part, .. and in the words of Lil Wayne, … it all worked out! (Tha Carter 5).” In the film he even gets to show off his pop-and-lock skills!

**WITH DEREK GAINES WHEN HE WAS MY GUEST ON SIRIUS XM RADIO**

Keith Robinson has a funny scene playing a security guard, and Pamela Adlon who has a big part plays Bill Burr’s ex-wife, and the mother of their two adorable kids. Rich Vos and Bonnie Macfarlane have a cool scene in an Italian restaurant called Denino’s which happens to be owned by my dear friend Joe McBratney’s brother, Jimmy McBratney, and where I’ve actually eaten. Great food by the way!

**WITH PAMELA ADLON STAR OF BETTER THINGS AT THE FRIARS CLUB**

Lynne Koplitz has a very fun part and gets to let out her “inner Lynn” by playing a wise-cracking nurse and best friend to Marisa Tomei. All these people had a chance to act with Marisa Tomei! Amazing.

**WITH LYNNE KOPLITZ BACKSTAGE AT SOME SHOW SOMEWHERE**

And when I asked Lynne about working with Marisa she said, “ she was great to work with and needless to say so professional. It was very surreal at first being that it was my first role in a full length movie and there I was at rehearsal with this fantastic Oscar winning beauty, but she was very friendly and the entire environment of the movie was very family like which enabled me to get comfortable quickly.”

She went on to say, “ I honestly can’t say enough nice things about working on this film. I adore Pete and always have and Ricky and Dave are just so generous, and fun and creative. And Judd, … well he just sets this confident and easy going collaborative tone that’s really great to work with.” Sounds like she liked it!

Liza Treyger plays a waitress in that same Italian restaurant where Pete’s character gets a job, Mike Vecchione doesn’t play a cop for which he’s so well suited, but he plays a fireman also with a moustache, and Jessica Kirson plays the owner of a pharmacy who has a very unusual interaction with Ricky Velez and his boys.

And Steve Buscemi who has done some comedy parts in the past, like on Jim Gaffigan’s show, (where I accidentally walked onto the set while they were filming to say hello to Jim and ruined the take), plays a senior fireman as well, and adds his great talent to the already amazing cast.

But seeing Ray romance Margie stirred an emotional note with me because of all things, my parents were named Margie and Ray. That can’t even happen. When I told Bill Burr about it he said, “ What are the odds of that?” I was like “Basically zero.” And he also said he was glad I liked the film because he had a lot of fun doing it.

The film was very emotional in several spots, and ran the entire gamut of feelings. Some very funny parts and some very touching parts where Pete and I both had tears welling up in our eyes. Pete really showed that he had quite a range. He’s basically in every scene and it was very special to see him be so good and so believable in his role.

And I must give a special shout out to English actress Bel Powley who played Pete’s childhood friend and occasional hook-up in the film. She was just so good in her part as Kelsey, and she learned the Staten Island accent as if it was her own.

I read one review of the film where the writer used such big words and flowery expressions I couldn’t tell whether she liked it or not. I don’t even know how to write that way. I just write it simply the way I see it.

This is definitely a film you should see and I’m sure it will do great things for everyone who was involved in it. I sure wish I had been! (LOL)

Tags: "Academy Award winner", "Academy Award", "Comedy Cellar", "Keith Robinson", "Pete Davidson", "Ricky Velez", Bill Burr, Comedy, Derek Gaines, director, feature film, hit film, Judd Apatow, King, Liza Treyger, Marisa Tomei, masterful, Saturday Night Live, sex., SNL, so funny, Staten Island, Tattoos, The King of Staten Island

Posted in: Celeb Photos, Comedians In The News, Comedy Clubs, Comedy Events, Comedy Matters, Film Review, General Information, Jeffrey Gurian News, New Films, Singles Events

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Comedy Matters TV On The Scene with National Lampoon, Chris Distefano at Gotham, The Irishman, and more!!!

Posted by Jeffrey Gurian on December 11, 2019

National Lampoon Back on the Scene!

National Lampoon which celebrates its 50^th anniversary in 2020, just launched a new comedy space and weekly stand-up series, “LIC Comedy,” in Long Island City thanks to Lampoon Pres. Evan Shapiro, and Exec. V.P. of Digital Media Gian Hunjan, along with Creative Associate Claudia Barran. They acquired the brand back in 2017 but just partnered with LIC Artists and The Plaxall Gallery to do a series of comedy shows, besides bringing back the beloved and iconic National Lampoon Radio hour.

Premiering December 19, the new, 11-episode podcast, in partnership with Forever Dog Podcast Network and available on iTunes, Spotify and other podcasting platforms will feature a collection of National Lampoon comedy sketches, characters, music and more, thanks to lead writers Cole Escola (Emmy-nominated “At Home with Amy Sedaris,” “Difficult People”) and Jo Firestone (Adult Swim, “The Tonight Show”).

I went out there for the inaugural show and the place is amazing. It’s a huge 12,000 square foot community center/art gallery, with many rooms, and fortunately I got there early enough that Gian found me wandering in the street, greeted me and guided me in, and then Evan gave me the tour including an outdoor space right on some kind of waterway that will be amazing for parties during the nice weather. That’s THEIR plan not mine! Those who know me know that I LOVE parties! (LOL)

The plan is to have a show every Friday night in perpetuity. The inaugural show was well attended by an interesting and upscale, handpicked group of people, in a very relaxed setting and each of the comics commented on the unusual setting, … performing in a spacious art gallery, with a slide of a huge frame on the wall behind them.

First up was Pat Burtscher, who was originally from Toronto, then lived in London and moved here to NY as of last May. He stuck out to me because he had such unusual and unique premises, which I love and respect. Things like, ” We’re the only animals that give ourselves jobs” which is a great premise and then he expanded upon it, which is how I learned to do comedy, from some of the greats. You get a strong premise and build a bunch of jokes around it. That’s the essence of writing comedy. Or at least it should be!

When I went up to him after the show to compliment him he reminded me that we had already met back in August when we were on the same show at the Fairfield Comedy Club, and I drove him and two other comics, Beecher and Jason Salmon back to New York. Pat was sitting in the back seat so I didn’t get to learn his face! (LOL) I love unique because it’s so hard to find!

Also on the show was Ali Kolbert who talks a lot about being 27 but looking much younger, which is true. Ali had been an NBC page and wound up making her late night debut on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.

And the always funny Ricky Velez came on next. Ricky’s part of the Fat Baby crew with Giulio Gallarotti, Josh Wesson and Benny Demarco and I love the energy that those guys bring wherever they go. Ricky is also tight with Pete Davidson and performs on shows with him on the road.

Ricky talked a lot about his baby, being a Dad, his own Dad, and how his wife comes from money and wears pajamas, which to paraphrase him is a rich person’s game!

**RICKY VELEZ HOLDING IT DOWN, IN THE TIGHTEST SAGGIEST PANTS EVER- – – BUT SOMEHOW HE MAKES THEM LOOK GOOD!**

Dave Merheje followed and I had seen Dave this past summer on the Ronnie Chieng TV gala when he surprised me by performing in shorts and a T-shirt for television, while Ronnie was in a beautiful suit.

Dave’s background is Lebanese and it was funny hearing him tell the story of how his uncle once came to the door for Christmas proclaiming that he was Santa Claus, without a costume, just a beard, yelled out “Ha, Ha, Ha” instead of “Ho, Ho, Ho”, and the kids were scared that Santa Claus had an Arabic accent! Btw, he didn’t wear shorts this time, he wore bright red sweats pants!

Giulio Gallarotti came out and closed the show with a strong set, talking about how he doesn’t like to smoke weed and gave a strong reason why, and I was hoping he’d do a song as Lil Young Big his rapper alter-ego. Maybe next time.

But it was a very cool event, and when I asked Evan what he wanted people to know about it he said to tell you guys that the show will run every Friday at 10, part of the ticket sales go to support local artists, the tickets are 15 bucks and they have the least expensive drinks of any comedy club in the five boroughs!

Chris Distefano Uses Family As Inspiration for Jokes

I’ve known Chris Distefano since the beginning when we used to do open mic shows at Gotham Comedy Club and he was honing bits like “Tell me no”, and talking about his Mom dating a guy named Phineas with polio, and he was always hilarious. So it was great to see him headlining Gotham with sold out shows. The place was so packed they threatened to put strangers with me at my table! (LOL)

I was seated right next to Chris’ manager comedy heavyweight Rick Dorfman of Authentic Talent and Literary Agency, who jokingly asked me if I didn’t have anything better to do than go to a comedy show!

**BACKSTAGE WITH CHRIS DISTEFANO AT GOTHAM COMEDY CLUB AFTER HIS SOLD OUT SHOW!**

He held it down for an hour with non-stop laughs and his very unique delivery. That’s a very rare thing to have and I was glad to tell him that after the show. It’s very hard to have a unique delivery. Gilbert Gottfried does it, Judah Friedlander does it, and Chris does it too.

He makes it sound like he doesn’t know what he’s going to say next in that very kind of staccato way he has of speaking, jumping from one thing to another. To the audience it sounds like he’s saying it all for the very first time. He hits on very current topics like memes, peanut allergies, cancel culture etc.

And he kept his jacket on the whole time too, but took it off for the VIP meet and greet after the show. Almost the whole audience signed up for it and lined up to buy merch and take photos.

A lot of his merch was about History Hyenas the podcast he does with his comedy bro’ Yannis Pappas. Both of these guys were my guests on Sirius XM’s Bennington Show. After the Gotham show I went backstage to ask him a couple of questions.

THE INTERVIEW

JG: So tell me about History Hyenas.
CD – History Hyenas is a podcast I do with Yannis Pappas, it’s been going on about 18 months now, we just sold out The Gramercy Theatre a couple of weeks ago and we’re gonna do another show , actually a residency there throughout 2020, and we’ve had Jim Gaffigan on, Bill Burr, Andrew Schulz, and all the episodes are available on i-Tunes…
JG – But what’s the concept of the show?

CD – The concept of the show is it’s a history show but it’s comedy first, so you’ll learn but you’ll laugh first and foremost, it’s always comedy and then we’ll throw in some history stuff that you can regurgitate at a party and sound and look cool!

JG – Do the comics have to study history before they come on?

CD – No, we don’t require comics to study at all. They come on and if they are passionate about it, like Jim Gaffigan came on and did a whole episode about the Samurai culture in Japan because he had just come from there and he loved it. Bill Burr came on and did a whole history tour of Boston because he knows all about it, and that works but we’ve had other episodes where we just had Michael Kosta on or Sam Morril and just shoot the shit just being three comics in a room.

JG – I just got back from Japan and it’s crazy over there. I did a couple of shows there and it’s insane.
CD – Yeh, I would love to go to Japan.

JG – It’s a long fucking trip!

CD – Yeh, I’ll take an edible.

JG – You better bring more than one for 14 hours. What else do you have that people should know about, … your special 38 Waist?

CD – Well my special 38 Waist is on Comedy Central, but I’m gonna do a second special Size 36 Waist, that comes out on Comedy Central in August of 2021.
JG- Really? Or are you just fuckin’ with me?

CD – No I swear. Cause I’ve been on Keto, and I have a good boxing trainer Paulie, who’s here tonight that feeds me oregano pills, he’s here in the green room, I have a cartoon in development with Comedy Central, and of course I hope that all those things go, but my real passion right now is the podcast Hisstory Hyenas. That’s why the shows were sold out at Gotham this weekend, and why shows in general are selling out for me now is because of that podcast.

JG – Where do you tape it from?

CD – We tape it from The Comedy Cellar, RiotCast Studios, Bobby Kelly’s podcast network, and we tape anywhere from 4 hours a week to 8 hours a week depending on how much coffee Yannis has had.

JG – Tell me about the cartoon.

CD – It’s slated to come out hopefully some time in 2020, and I also have a non-scripted show in development with Comedy Central. The cartoon’s about my life. it’s about being a single Dad, with a bi-racial kid, and a father who’s in the Mafia. ( Lots of laughter)

JG – That’s a hilarious story. It’s gotta be a hit.

CD – So it’s me and my Dad raising this Puerto Rican kid doing the best we can.

JG – Is there anything you’d like to do that you haven’t done yet?

CD – Well in 2020, I moved up in certain markets to theaters, so I’m hoping to go from the comedy clubs to the theaters, and start selling theaters out, that’s really my main goal for 2020.

JG – Well I just have to say that I’ve seen you from the beginning and you’ve always been funny so I’m not surprised that you’re doing so well because you deserve it because you worked really hard.

CD – Thank you Jeff I really appreciate that. Thank you brother. Always a pleasure to see you!

John Belushi on Saint Marks

Thanks to long-time comedy manager Jason Steinberg of Steinberg Talent, I got to see this play. It’s called “With A Little Help – It’s John Belushi” and it’s at Theatre 80 on St. Marks Place, and owner Lorcan Otway told me his family has been in the theatre business for over 300 years! That’s longer than I’ve been in comedy!!! And the theatre is beautiful by the way filled with show biz memorabilia including some rare posters!

The award winning play is an ensemble piece with about 8 characters all of whom playing two or three parts except for Jack Zullo who wrote the show and plays a very spirited John Belushi. He definitely brings John’s energy level to the stage.

All good actors and very entertaining, but if I had to say anything at all in a positive yet constructive manner, 90 minutes into it they hadn’t gotten to the SNL years yet, and John’s discovery by Lorne Michaels. Otherwise as I said, … very entertaining. They mentioned National Lampoon a lot, so it was very fitting that when I left I ran out to LIC to catch the inaugural National Lampoon show mentioned above.

Jason by the way. who has been instrumental in the careers of many big stars handles Tony Woods who just had a big thing in the New York Times, and Donnell Rawlings who just launched a new podcast, The Donnell Rawlings Show. He announced it on Joe Rogan’s podcast that for the very first time he spoke by himself, all alone for 44 minutes! Joe had been encouraging him to do it for months, and he didn’t wanna show up on the show again without having done it, … so he finally did it!

KRYSTYNA HUTCHINSON GOES SOLO

I caught up with my girl Krystyna Hutchinson at Stand Up New York, and we hadn’t seen each other in too long so we took a moment to catch up. She was hanging with Justin Silver and she just did her first time solo headlining gig at American Comedy Company in San Diego and brought Justin to open for her.

She said that 4 out of 5 shows were sold out and she did 45 minutes for the first time and found it very draining, but lots of fun.

**KRYSTYNA HUTCHINSON AND JUSTIN SILVER AT STAND UP NEW YORK**

GM Jon Borromeo told me the club is focussing on discovering and promoting young talent, that hadn’t been able to get stage time at other clubs, and he named Zach Zimmerman as an example, who just happened to be standing next to him at the time, and said he did his one man show at the club!

COMEDIANS IN “THE IRISHMAN”

If you’re willing to sit through 3 hours of Martin Scorcese’s new hit “The Irishman” which I did because it’s on Netflix and I could get up, walk around, get a snack and pause it when I wanted to you’d see a bunch of comedians in roles, and I personally counted about 18 people I knew personally from the comedy and acting world.

Ray Romano has a big part as Bill Bufalino, the attorney who repped Teamster leader Jimmy Hoffa and was the cousin of mob boss Russell Bufalino played by Joe Pesci.

In an example of perfect casting, Jim Norton had a nightclub scene where he portrayed the late legendary Don Rickles, and Sebastian Maniscalco who’s always hilarious had a great serious role playing the part of “Crazy Joe” Gallo, which he did so well.

**WITH SEBASTIAN AT MADISON SQUARE GARDEN AFTER HIS SOLD OUT SHOW**

Bobby Funaro who started out working the door at Carolines on Broadway and went on to be in The Sopranos played a character named Johnny, Paulie Herman who used to own Columbus Cafe and is in just about every mob movie played Whispers DiTullio, the late Vinny Vella played a meat company manager and others I’ve known and/or worked with or interviewed in different projects over the years were the amazingly talented Bobby Cannavale who played a crazy character named Skinny Razor, Bo Dietl, legendary detective who recently ran for Mayor and unfortunately did not win, Kathrine Narducci who played Russell Bufalino’s wife Carrie, as well as Artie Bucco’s wife in The Sopranos, and attended my play “A Punch In The Face” dedicated to actor/martial artist/Hells Angel Chuck Zito who also attended, Stevie Van Zandt from E-Street who played Jerry Vale in this movie, and Silvio Dante in The Sopranos, my old friend Danny Abeckaser who went from a club promoter/owner to movie actor and producer, Garry Pastore who played Albert Anastasia, and most recently played a gangster named Matty ” The Horse” in HBO’s The Deuce and is the cousin of another old friend of mine, Vinny “Big Pussy” Pastore, and there were more!

**BACKSTAGE WITH BOBBY CANNAVALE AND CHRIS ROCK AND THE CAST ON BROADWAY WHEN COMIC STRIP OWNER RICHIE TIENKEN AND I WENT TO SEE “THE M-F’ER WITH THE HAT”**

LOVE FOR PATRICE GOES ON

So I’m walking down St. Marks Place the other night on my way to the John Belushi play when I hear someone yelling out to me. At first I didn’t turn around cause I’m from New York, but then he said “Mr. Gurian”, so I turned and looked.

It was this nice young musician named Supremo Massiv who happened to have a gig right across the street but ran out and had to tell me what a big fan he was of the work I did with Patrice O’Neal on the Black Phillip Show and how much the show meant to him.

It happens wherever I go, most recently in Japan, but in Boston, at Skankfest, at a Syndicate event, and with people from all over the world, the love for Patrice lives on. And a few months ago I started taking a photo with each and every one of them.

**WITH “BLACK PHILLIP” FAN SUPREMO MASSIV ON ST. MARKS PLACE IN NYC**

MEDERI CENTER BENEFIT

The Mederi Center located in Ashland, Oregon was founded by a master nutritionist named Donnie Yance, who specializes in treating cancer and other serious illnesses with herbs and nutrition in conjunction with traditional medicine.

Some friends of his, including consciousness guru Alan Steinfeld of New Realities, saw me performing at West Side Comedy Club one night and the next thing I knew I was the MC at a big fundraiser they held on 11/22 at the Warehouse of the Fairfield Theatre Company in Fairfield, CT starring pop star and cross over artist Gino Vannelli and jazz singer Grammy nominee Roberta Gambarini. It was a fabulous night, well attended and raised a lot of money!

**WITH JENNIFER YANCE, GINO VANNELLI AND DONNIE YANCE AT THE WAREHOUSE OF THE FAIRFIELD THEATRE COMPANY**

Tags: "Jim Norton", "National Lampoon", "stand-up comedy", cancer treatment, Chris Distefano, Comedy, comedy world, Gino Vannelli, Healing, inside look at the comedy world, National Lampoon movies, Patrice Oneal, Ray Romano, The Irishman

Posted in: Comedy, Comedy Clubs, Comedy Events, Comedy Matters, Entertainment News, Jeffrey Gurian News, National Lampoon, Podcasts, Point of View, Self Help Information, Social Media, Stand-Up Comedy, Variety Show

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